Enter any address in Brookings County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Big Sioux River Basin is the dominant flood character in Brookings County. Recent events include minor to localized moderate river flooding observed at the end of July 2025, and again in September 2025 due to elevated river levels and heavy rain.
NFIP claims data shows that while Zone A areas have had the most claims, Zone X_UNSHADED areas have experienced higher average payouts and water depths. Properties located in or near the Big Sioux River Basin, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
37 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Brookings County, South Dakota has recorded 129 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 28 flash floods and 101 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Winter Storm | Dec 12, 2022 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 12, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 9, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 13, 2019 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Sep 6, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 30, 2025
A period of heavy rain across northeast South Dakota resulted in downstream river gauges within the upper and middle Big Sioux River Basin to rise into Minor and locally Moderate flood stage.
Flood — Jun 29, 2025
A period of heavy rain across northeast South Dakota resulted in downstream river gauges within the upper and middle Big Sioux River Basin to rise into Minor and locally Moderate flood stage.
Flood — Jul 29, 2025
A wet period at the end of the July resulted in saturated soils and increased runoff, allowing isolated river flooding along the upper Big Sioux River Basin. Minor to very localized moderate river flooding was observed.
Flood — Jul 28, 2025
A wet period at the end of the July resulted in saturated soils and increased runoff, allowing isolated river flooding along the upper Big Sioux River Basin. Minor to very localized moderate river flooding was observed.
Flood — Sep 18, 2025
Elevated river levels through the upper and portions of the middle Big Sioux River Basin continued into September. A couple of different heavy rain events again pushed isolated stretches of the river into Minor flood stage.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Brookings County, South Dakota:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Brookings County, South Dakota that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.