Enter any address in McCook County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events dominates the flood character of McCook County. Between 2003 and 2023, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 21 flood events and 9 flash flood events. Recent examples include significant rainfall in June 2024, which led to widespread flooding and overland inundation across the region, impacting areas along major highways.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A and Zone X have experienced the majority of flood claims. Zone A properties had an average payout of $17,655 with an average water depth of -0.3 feet, while Zone X properties saw an average payout of $17,336 with an average water depth of -1.0 feet. Properties located in Zone A, Zone X, or areas with unknown flood zone designations should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
McCook County, South Dakota has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 9 flash floods and 21 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 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 17, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Apr 8, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 10, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 20, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 1.72M |
| Flood | May 29, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 660.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 11, 2019 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Sep 11, 2019 | 540.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 10, 2019 | 10.00K |
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 — Jun 21, 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 — May 29, 2019
A widespread 2 to 4 inches of rainfall between May 21 and May 27 across much of southeast South Dakota resulted in late month flooding on the upper and lower portions of the Vermillion River.
Flood — Mar 14, 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 McCook 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 McCook 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.