Enter any address in Spink County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the James River and its tributaries is the dominant flood character in Spink County. Between 1993 and 2023, Spink County experienced 108 flood events and 8 flash flood events, resulting in one fatality. For example, snowmelt led to flooding along the James River and its tributaries in April 2023, with river gauges near Columbia peaking just below major flood stage.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that claims have been filed in multiple flood zones. Zone X_Unshaded areas have seen 25 claims with an average payout of $15,571 and an average water depth of 3.4 feet. Zone A areas have had 24 claims, averaging $14,890 in payouts and 3.8 feet of water depth. Zone X areas have recorded 11 claims, with an average payout of $13,239 and an average water depth of 1.1 feet.
Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X_Unshaded, as well as those residing near the James River and its tributaries, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
32 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Spink County, South Dakota has recorded 116 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 8 flash floods and 108 river or area floods. The county has received 23 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 (1969–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 11, 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 | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2013 |
| 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 | Apr 19, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 20, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 19, 2023
Snowmelt resulted in flooding along the James River and its associated tributaries. The National Weather Service recorded an April record snow depth of 26 inches in Aberdeen on the 5th. This was followed by near normal temperatures through the latter half of the month of April. This relatively mild warmup resulted in snowmelt on top of frozen ground, and forced most of the melt into the waterwa...
Flood — Apr 18, 2023
Snowmelt resulted in flooding along the James River and its associated tributaries. The National Weather Service recorded an April record snow depth of 26 inches in Aberdeen on the 5th. This was followed by near normal temperatures through the latter half of the month of April. This relatively mild warmup resulted in snowmelt on top of frozen ground, and forced most of the melt into the waterwa...
Flood — Apr 17, 2023
Snowmelt resulted in flooding along the James River and its associated tributaries. The National Weather Service recorded an April record snow depth of 26 inches in Aberdeen on the 5th. This was followed by near normal temperatures through the latter half of the month of April. This relatively mild warmup resulted in snowmelt on top of frozen ground, and forced most of the melt into the waterwa...
Flood — Aug 11, 2023
After heavy rainfall during the first half of August, the James river gauge at Ashton rose above flood stage on the morning of August 11th and remained in flood through August 21st. The river crested at 13.25 on August 18th, 0.25 feet above flood stage. This only impacted already previously flooded crop and pastures.
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...
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 Spink 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 Spink 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.