Roberts County, SD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Roberts County has experienced 24 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.
Roberts County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, cold wave, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 49 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Roberts County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1976, covering 7 disaster types including flood (9), severe storm (9), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 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 |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 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 | Relatively Low | 74 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 38 | 16 | 0 | $391K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 8.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 37.2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 50.4 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 67.9 | 20 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 57.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 88 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 77.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 80 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 8.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 58.1 | 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
Roberts County ranks in the 67th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 67th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 65th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 53rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 57th | 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 | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 55th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 49 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 25 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (-4% — 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 Roberts County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Roberts County, South Dakota are winter weather, cold wave, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Roberts County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Roberts County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is flood (9 declarations).
Has Roberts County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Roberts County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm in 2023.
How does Roberts County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Richland County, ND has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Traverse County, MN has the lowest (Very Low). Roberts County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Roberts County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Roberts 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. Roberts County's composite score of 38 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 38% of US counties.