Natural Disaster Risk in Davison County

Natural Hazard Profile: Davison County, South Dakota

Davison County is located in the United States in South Dakota, home to roughly 19,950 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.

FEMA rates Davison County's composite natural disaster risk at 5.7 out of 10 — moderate risk. Severe winter storms top the local risk profile, bringing blizzard conditions, ice storms, and extreme cold that pose health risks and cause extensive property and infrastructure damage. Residents should also account for ice storm and tornado risk in their preparedness planning.

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

Davison 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 winter exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.