Natural Disasters in Watertown, SD

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

61.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

67.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

26.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

74.8

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Ice Storm94.8Winter Weather93.1Cold Wave82.3

Hazard	Risk Score
Ice Storm	94.8
Winter Weather	93.1
Cold Wave	82.3
Tornado	77.0
Wildfire	71.0
Hail	70.2
Strong Wind	64.1
Heat Wave	38.5
Drought	36.6
Landslide	24.7
Earthquake	21.7
Lightning	7.7

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Flood

Jul 2023

Most Common Type

Flood

10 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jul 6, 2023	Flood	FLOODING
Jun 29, 2022	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 5, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Nov 18, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jun 7, 2019	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORM, SNOWSTORM, AND FLOODING
Feb 1, 2017	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Aug 2, 2013	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 13, 2011	Flood	FLOODING
May 13, 2010	Flood	FLOODING
Dec 20, 2005	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 10, 2005	Coastal Storm	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
May 17, 2001	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND ICE JAMS
Jun 1, 1998	Flood	FLOODING, SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES
Apr 7, 1997	Flood	SEVERE FLOODING, SEVER WINTER STORMS,HEAVY RAINS HIGH WINDS
Jan 10, 1997	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
Jan 5, 1996	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 26, 1995	Flood	FLOODING
Jun 21, 1994	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jul 19, 1993	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 23 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

472

Total Claims Paid

$6,607,516

Avg Claim Payout

$13,999

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$4,621,982

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

298

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4718	Flood	28	$911,286
DR-4656	Severe Storm(s)	5	$818,495
DR-4440	Other	30	$706,823
DR-1375	Flood	119	$652,282
DR-4469	Severe Storm(s)	4	$408,475
DR-4137	Severe Storm(s)	6	$338,857
DR-1915	Flood	44	$326,765
DR-1984	Flood	46	$316,746
DR-1620	Severe Storm(s)	12	$91,642
DR-4298	Severe Storm(s)	4	$50,610

Watertown has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, winter weather, cold wave. The area has had 23 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (10 declarations). 472 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $4,621,982 in public assistance recovery funding.