Enter any address in Yankton County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Missouri River and its tributaries is the dominant flood character for Yankton County. Between 2000 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 75 flood events and 14 flash flood events in the county. Recent events include significant rainfall in June 2024, which led to major to record river flooding and extensive overland flooding across southeast South Dakota. In July 2024, a localized thunderstorm produced rainfall rates of up to 3-4 inches per hour, resulting in flash flooding with water depths up to a couple feet.
NFIP claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced flooding with an average water depth of 0.7 feet and an average payout of $31,912. Properties in Zone X, which typically represent areas of moderate flood risk, have seen higher average water depths of 6.3 feet and average payouts of $19,794. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and Zone X_Unshaded should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Yankton County, South Dakota has recorded 89 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 75 river or area floods. The county has received 16 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 (1976–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Sep 6, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 28, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 227.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 28, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 8, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 3, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 22, 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 — 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 — Jul 19, 2024
A slow moving cluster of thunderstorms resided near Yankton for a couple hours, with a deep warm cloud layer resulting in extremely efficient rainfall rates of up to 3-4 inches per hour at times. Rain totals from 3 to 6 inches were measured around the Yankton area over just a couple hours. Water quickly pooled and flowed up to a couple feet deep.
Flood — Jul 1, 2024
River levels from the historic June flooding remained above flood stage for some locations into July, although continued a declining trend.
Flood — Apr 28, 2023
Rapid snowmelt from a few day period of well above normal temperatures focused on the 11-13th of April resulted in moderate to locally major flooding through much of the James River Basin. Some areas north of I-90 lost between 2 to 5 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) from the first to second week of April, but antecedent drought conditions resulted in only a percentage of this water actuall...
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 Yankton 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 Yankton 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.