Enter any address in Clay County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Missouri River and its tributaries is the dominant flood character for Clay County. Between 2000 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 48 flood events and 19 flash flood events in the county. Recent significant rainfall events in June 2024 resulted in widespread totals between 5 and 15 inches, leading to major to record flooding along area streams and rivers, impacting several communities.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone X have experienced more frequent claims, averaging $1,590 per payout with an average water depth of 1.6 feet. While less frequent, claims in Zone A have resulted in significantly higher average payouts of $36,254. Homeowners, journalists, and real estate agents should pay particular attention to properties located near rivers and streams, as well as those in areas designated as Zone X, due to the historical frequency of flood events and claims.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Clay County, South Dakota has recorded 67 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 48 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 10 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 2024 |
| 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 Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 13, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 13, 2014 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 21, 2010 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 10, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 23, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 6.50M |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 7, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 18, 2019 | 10.00K |
Flood — Jun 23, 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...
Flash Flood — Jun 21, 2024
Southeast South Dakota was on the initial development end of a second mesoscale convective system in just two days as a frontal boundary remained anchored just south of the area. Scattered storms produced some spotty wind gusts as well as locally flooding rainfall.
Flood — Jun 21, 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...
Flash Flood — Jul 28, 2020
A frontal zone from north central Nebraska to northern Iowa focused development of late afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Weak deep-layer shear resulted in slow or back-building cells, which produced localized damaging winds and flooding rainfall.
Flood — Mar 7, 2020
With one to four inches of liquid residing in the snowpack near and north of Interstate 90 at the start of the month, a more or less ideal melting of the winter snowpack in early March produced minor flooding along middle portions of the Vermillion River Basin.
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 Clay 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 Clay 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.