6 flood insurance claims·$3,269 paid·9 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Edmunds County, South Dakota. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms and general flooding from snowmelt and heavy rains dominate the flood profile in Edmunds County, South Dakota. Over the last 30 years, NOAA recorded 17 flash flood events and 14 general flood events.
Recent historic events illustrate these hazards. In March 2019, much above normal winter snowfall, meltwater, ice jams, and heavy rains caused rivers and creeks to flood fields and roads, damaging culverts and structures. In May 2022, heavy rain caused flooding in the county following persistent early May rainfall. Additionally, thunderstorms in July 2022 produced heavy rainfall, with measured amounts reaching 5.5 inches near Loyalton and 3.5 inches in Bowdle.
National Flood Insurance Program records show claims filed in lower-risk zones, including Zone X with 4 claims averaging a $1,150 payout and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches; Zone X_UNSHADED with 1 claim averaging a $679 payout and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches; and Zone UNKNOWN with 1 claim averaging a $289 payout and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Homeowners and real estate agents in Edmunds County should pay attention to these risks, particularly properties vulnerable to rapid surface runoff from intense summer storms and spring snowmelt.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
The worst year was 2011, with 2 claims and $2,301 paid, the year of Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
7 NOAA storm reports from Edmunds County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the South Dakota flood stories →
20 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 9 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Mar 13, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Dec 24, 2016 |
| Flooding | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Flooding | Mar 10, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 20, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Mar 11, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Sep 6, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
31 since 1996: 17 flash floods and 14 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 10, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 7, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2022 | — |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2019 | — |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | — |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | — |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2019 | $39,600 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2015 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Apr 10, 2023. The snowfall during the season in northeast and central South Dakota exceeded normal levels, with many locations ranking among the top 10 for the snowiest seasons. Additionally, the late spring conditions were unusually cold, resulting in a persistent and exceptionally deep snowpack until early April. The depth of the snowpack ranged from 15 to 30 plus inches, containing approximately 4 to 8 inches of snow water e…
Flash Flood · May 7, 2022. Storms formed in the Missouri River Valley in the afternoon producing quarter to half dollar sized hail. These storms merged into a line which would eventually produce three weak tornadoes. One of these tornadoes destroyed a shed near Columbia. The system moved east of the James River Valley in the evening with limited severe weather thereafter. Additionally, heavy rain caused flooding in Edmunds county which had…
Flash Flood · Jul 7, 2022. Thunderstorms produced isolated severe weather and heavy rainfall. A wind gust of 62 mph was observed one mile east-southeast of Bowdle, and quarter-size hail was reported one mile west of Zell. A measured rainfall amount of 5.5 inches by the public occurred one mile southeast of Loyalton. Estimated 3.50 inches of rain was reported at Bowdle, as well as 3 inches at Selby, Roscoe, and Miranda. Funnel clouds were re…
Flood · Mar 22, 2019. Much above normal winter snowfall and melt water/ice jams along with heavy rains in the middle of March brought flooding across parts of central and northeast South Dakota for late March. Rivers and creeks flooded across much of the area along with many fields and roads. The flooding damaged many of the roads and culverts across the region. Some structures were also flooded. Lake levels also rose threatening homes…
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Edmunds County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.