Natural Disaster Risk in Aurora County

Natural Hazard Profile: Aurora County, South Dakota

Aurora County is located in the United States in South Dakota, home to roughly 2,747 residents. The county experiences harsh winters, hot summers, and significant seasonal variation, with severe blizzards and spring flooding shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Aurora County carries an overall risk score of 4.8/10, placing it in the moderate category. The area faces significant ice storm exposure, where the thermal profile of the atmosphere during winter storms frequently delivers freezing rain rather than snow. The area also faces notable exposure to cold wave and drought.

Aurora County's risk score, near the 4.9/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Aurora County, the highest-scoring are ice storm, cold wave, and drought. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Aurora County's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that ice storm exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.