Enter any address in Potter County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood events, including flash floods, have been the primary flood hazard in Potter County over the last 30 years. Recent events illustrate the impact of snowmelt and heavy rainfall. For example, in April 2019, widespread flooding occurred due to continued snowmelt from a snowy winter, impacting roads, cropland, and structures. Earlier that year, in March 2019, a combination of snowmelt, ice jams, and heavy rains led to flooding of rivers and creeks, damaging roads and culverts, and affecting some homes.
Residents in areas prone to river and creek overflow, as well as those in locations that have experienced flooding in the past, should pay close attention to flood risk. Properties situated in low-lying areas or those without a designated Base Flood Elevation (BFE) may be at higher risk during flood events.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Potter County, South Dakota has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 9 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 41 federal disaster declarations, 7 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 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Winter Storm | Dec 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 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 20, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Sep 6, 2005 |
| Severe Storm | Severe Storm | Jun 7, 2005 |
| Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,heavy Rains High Winds | Flood | Feb 3, 1997 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 10, 2023 | 150.00K |
| Flood | Mar 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2019 | 109.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 20, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2011 | 0.00K |
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 in...
Flood — Mar 25, 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 ro...
Flood — May 1, 2019
March and April snowmelt and heavy rain flooding along with above normal May precipitation resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of crops damaged or delayed/unplanted across central and northeast South Dakota. The widespread flooding continued into June with millions of dollars of loss.
Flood — Jun 1, 2019
Spring snowmelt and heavy rain flooding from March, April, and May continued into June. This combined with above normal June rainfall resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of crops damaged or unplanted across central and northeast South Dakota. For the entire state of South Dakota, nearly 4 million acres of crops were left unplanted as a result of the flooding. Total damaged or unplanted c...
Flood — Apr 1, 2019
The continuation of snowmelt from a much above normal snowfall winter combined with a historic heavy snow/blizzard in mid-April resulted in widespread flooding across central and northeast South Dakota. Countless roads along with thousands of acres of cropland were flooded throughout April. Impacts include damaged roads, culverts, and bridges, and livestock, homes, and businesses were affected....
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Potter 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 Potter 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.