Enter any address in Brule County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the primary flood hazard in Brule County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 20 flood events and 9 flash flood events. Recent examples include significant rainfall and widespread flooding observed in June 2024, with totals reaching 5 to 10 inches in many areas and exceeding 15 inches in pockets. Another notable event in September 2019 brought widespread heavy rainfall, with some locations recording over 8 inches in a two-day period.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded have experienced flooding, with average payouts varying significantly. Homeowners in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation, particularly those near streams and rivers, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Brule County, South Dakota has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 9 flash floods and 20 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 (1976–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 9, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | May 21, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 13, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 17, 2015 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 21, 2010 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 10, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 259.00K |
| Flood | Mar 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 24, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 140.00K |
| Flood | Sep 12, 2019 | 224.00K |
| Flood | Jul 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 2, 2019 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2024
Clusters of thunderstorms with very high rainfall rates from 2 to 4 inches per hour developed by midday on June 20, and despite being transient, continued to redevelop through the evening and into the overnight hours. The primary focus occurred along Highway 18 in the afternoon southwest and south of Sioux Falls, then along Interstate 90 during the evening, and settled again to along the Highw...
Flood — Jun 20, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches with pockets in excess of 15 inches across portions of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating several towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding al...
Flood — Mar 28, 2019
A historic flooding event unfolded as heavy rainfall with a late winter storm drenched the area on March 13-14, 2019. With 1 to 3 inches of snow water equivalent still in the snow pack south of Interstate 90 and 3 to 6 inches of snow water equivalent north of Interstate 90, gradually warming temperatures, and the frozen impervious ground, runoff into the controlled Missouri River resulted in cr...
Flood — May 24, 2019
A widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches between May 21 and May 27 led to significant rises on most rivers, worsening of flooding in existing flooded area, and expansion of flooding to more areas.
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
Rainfall of one to three inches on frozen ground and into a snow pack with between 2 and 5 inches of liquid water equivalent resulted in considerable overland flooding.||One of the hardest hit areas was around Yankton, where a No Travel Advisory was issued for the city on March 13-14. Businesses along north Highway 81 toward Yankton Mall had considerable ponding of water. Water rescues were n...
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 Brule 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 Brule 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.