Box Elder, SD
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Box Elder is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Pennington County, SD. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, hail, and winter weather.
Storm events near Box Elder
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Box Elder's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Box Elder itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Pennington County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Box Elder along with the rest of the county, not a Box Elder-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 97.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 75.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 56.9 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 59.6 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 61 | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | 6.4 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 85.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 25.6 | Very Low |
| Hail | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 82.6 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 84.8 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 91.2 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 30.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 94.6 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Pennington County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Pennington County:
More on Pennington County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Box Elder, SD at risk of?
Box Elder is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Pennington County, where Box Elder is located, are wildfire, hail, and winter weather.
What is Box Elder's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Pennington County, where Box Elder is located, scoring 97.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Box Elder a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Box Elder carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Pennington County.
Has Box Elder had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 2 tornado, 770 hail, 36 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Box Elder since 2016.