riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Brown County Disaster Risk

Brown County, South Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

74th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#4

of 66 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

63th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Brown County

Risk Verdict

Brown County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Brown County, scoring in the 77th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 70th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (63th), earthquake (28th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Brown County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Brown County is significantly riskier than the average county in South Dakota. Its composite risk score is 46.7 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Brown County, SD?
Brown County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 74th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Brown County?
Brown County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (77th percentile), tornado (70th percentile), flooding (63th percentile), earthquake (28th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 77th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Brown County risk compare to the South Dakota average?
Brown County's composite risk percentile is 74th, compared to the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Brown County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Dakota.
Is Brown County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Brown County's wildfire risk is at the 77th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Brown County is at the 63th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Brown County higher risk than average?
Brown County's composite risk score of 74th percentile is above the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (77th percentile), along with tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pennington County

South Dakota

+5.0

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Dewey County

South Dakota

+5.2

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Yankton County

South Dakota

-10.2

Relatively Low

63th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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