Potter County, SD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Potter County has experienced 41 federally declared disasters since 1976, most recently Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Potter County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, wildfire, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 43 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (3rd 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. Potter County has been designated in 41 declarations since 1976, covering 7 disaster types including biological (27), flood (6), severe storm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
Showing the 10 most recent of 41 total declarations since 1976.
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 | 56.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 14.6 | 6 | 0 | $260K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 8.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 10.9 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 17.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 45.8 | 31 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 13.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 56.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 31.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 70.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 3.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 43.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 4.4 | 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
Potter County ranks in the 3rd 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 | 3rd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 4th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 6th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 22nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 12th | Very low |
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 | 62nd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 71st | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 57.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 43 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 21 in 2021–25 (-5% — relatively stable).
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 Potter County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Potter County, South Dakota are cold wave, wildfire, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Potter County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Potter County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is biological (27 declarations).
Has Potter County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Potter County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm in 2023.
How does Potter County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Dewey County, SD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Sully County, SD has the lowest (Very Low). Potter County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Potter County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Potter 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. Potter County's composite score of 10 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 10% of US counties.