Grant County, SD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Grant County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Flooding in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Grant County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, ice storm, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 40% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (23rd percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Grant County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1969, covering 6 disaster types including flood (9), severe storm (8), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1969.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 54.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 17.3 | 23 | 0 | $226K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 6.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 30.9 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 53.3 | 24 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 20.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 59 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 62.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 78.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 2.6 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 35.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 36.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Grant County ranks in the 23rd percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 23rd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 15th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 32nd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 20th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 54th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 52.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 60 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 25 in 2016–20 vs 35 in 2021–25 (+40% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Grant County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Grant County, South Dakota are cold wave, ice storm, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Grant County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Grant County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is flood (9 declarations).
Has Grant County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Grant County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Flooding in 2023.
How does Grant County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Codington County, SD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Deuel County, SD has the lowest (Very Low). Grant County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Grant County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Grant County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Grant County's composite score of 19 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 19% of US counties.