Enter any address in Marshall County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Marshall County. Recent events include a flash flood on June 13, 2025, caused by rounds of rain and isolated thunderstorms, and another on August 15, 2025, where over 4.5 inches of rain in Britton overwhelmed drainage systems.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that Zone X areas have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $16,757 and an average water depth of 1.1 feet. Zone X_Unshaded areas have also seen claims, averaging $6,164 in payouts and 1.0 foot of water depth. Homeowners in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded areas should pay the most attention to flood risk.
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.
Marshall County, South Dakota has recorded 34 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 22 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 9 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1976–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 9, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 13, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Dec 24, 2016 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 10, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 11, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2007 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Nov 27, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Aug 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 12, 2023 | 150.00K |
| Flood | Jul 25, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 27, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2019 | 143.30K |
Flood — Aug 17, 2025
Brief but intense heavy rainfall from thunderstorms, on top of weeks of wet weather, resulted in additional flooding across Marshall, Hamlin, Codington, and Deuel counties starting on the 17th and persisting well into the 18th. An estimated 3 inches of rain fell in Lake Poinsett, while 1.63 inches was recorded by the COOP sensor 20 miles north northeast of Aberdeen, 1.62 inches was submitted b...
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2025
Strong storms during the early morning hours of August 15th would generate winds in excess of 70 mph at Sunset Colony, and half-dollar to ping pong sized hail observed by the Marshall County Emergency Manager in Britton. Total rainfall in Britton over a 48 hour period exceeded 4.5 inches, with this latest round of storms overwhelming drainage systems and causing flooding in town.
Flash Flood — Jun 13, 2025
A broad low-pressure system brought several rounds of rain and a few strong, isolated thunderstorms to northeast South Dakota. The rain began on the morning of June 12th. A break in the rain mid-day allowed the atmosphere to destabilize, which led to stronger storms in the afternoon. One storm produced penny-sized hail 3 miles west of Blunt. Another storm in Mansfield produced penny to nickel-s...
Flash Flood — Aug 5, 2025
A line of storms produced large hail and high winds during the afternoon and evening of August 5th, and into the early morning hours of August 6th. The largest sized hail measured at 3 inches in diameter was observed in Hoven. Later in the evening, a peak wind gust of 99 mph was recorded on a weather station out at Sandy Shore State Park, while the Watertown Regional Airport ASOS would record a...
Flood — Apr 12, 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 in...
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 Marshall 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 Marshall 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.