riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Custer County Disaster Risk

Custer County, South Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

16th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#37

of 66 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

19th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 19% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 94% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Custer County, South Dakota

Custer County: low overall risk, high wildfire exposure

Custer County scores 16.35 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the Very Low category and well below the national average. However, its wildfire risk of 94.24 is exceptional and deserves special attention.

South Dakota's wildfire hotspot

Custer County's wildfire risk of 94.24 is the highest in South Dakota, making it the state's most fire-prone county. Despite this elevated wildfire exposure, its composite score remains low due to minimal flood, tornado, and earthquake risks.

Wildfire risk far exceeds regional peers

Custer County's wildfire risk of 94.24 is substantially higher than neighboring Butte (86.90) and all other South Dakota counties. This exceptional exposure reflects the county's location in the Black Hills forest region.

Wildfire is Custer's defining hazard concern

Wildfire risk at 94.24 is Custer County's dominant and nearly exclusive natural hazard, while flood (19.31), tornado (22.07), and earthquake (25.10) risks remain manageable. The county's disaster profile centers entirely on fire exposure.

Wildfire insurance essential for Black Hills residents

Custer County homeowners must carry wildfire coverage through riders, separate policies, or specialized carriers, as standard homeowners policies exclude this hazard despite the 94.24 risk score. Maintain defensible space, clear gutters and roof debris, and have evacuation plans ready during fire season.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Custer County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    94th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    25th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    22th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Custer County

Risk Verdict

Custer County sits in the lower tier of U.S. counties for natural disaster exposure, ranked at the 16th percentile nationally. Even at the 16th percentile, Custer County's composite score reflects real hazard exposure categories — knowing which ones apply locally enables targeted, efficient household preparedness.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Custer County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 94th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 25th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (22th percentile), flood (19th percentile).

Preparedness Context

At the 94th percentile nationally for wildfire risk, Custer County households benefit from creating defensible space — a buffer of reduced vegetation around structures — and reviewing whether homeowners insurance covers wildfire damage in this region. The county's earthquake exposure at the 25th percentile nationally complements the wildfire risk — saturating rain after burn scarring often triggers secondary flood and debris flow events. Enrolling in the county's wireless emergency alert system and keeping a vehicle at least half-full during peak fire season are low-cost habits that dramatically reduce evacuation lag time for Custer County residents.

Regional Context

Custer County falls 10.5 points below South Dakota's typical county risk level, making it one of the safer natural-hazard environments in the state.

Is your household prepared for Custer County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Custer County, SD?
Custer County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 16th 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 Custer County?
Custer County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (94th percentile), earthquake (25th percentile), tornado (22th percentile), flooding (19th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 94th 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 Custer County risk compare to the South Dakota average?
Custer County's composite risk percentile is 16th, compared to the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Custer County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Dakota.
Is Custer County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Custer County's wildfire risk is at the 94th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Custer County is at the 19th 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.
Is Custer County a safe place to live?
Custer County's composite risk score of 16th percentile is below the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 94th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hughes County

South Dakota

+0.1

Very Low

16th percentile

Gregory County

South Dakota

-0.2

Very Low

16th percentile

Spink County

South Dakota

+1.3

Very Low

18th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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