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

Harding County Disaster Risk

Harding County, South Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

1th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#65

of 66 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

3th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Harding County, South Dakota

Harding County ranks among America's safest

Harding County's composite risk score of just 1.49 places it among the nation's lowest natural disaster risk areas, with a Very Low risk designation. The county enjoys exceptional protection from most natural hazards.

Harding County is South Dakota's safest county

At 1.49, Harding County's score is dramatically below South Dakota's state average of 26.84—less than 6% of the state norm. The county represents an exceptionally resilient natural disaster environment statewide.

Dramatically safer than all nearby counties

Harding County's 1.49 score is far lower than any adjacent county, including Hand County (6.46), Hamlin County (9.99), and Haakon County (9.73). The county stands alone in its exceptional resilience to natural disasters.

Wildfire is Harding's only notable hazard

Wildfire risk registers at 82.60—Harding County's sole meaningful natural hazard exposure, and strikingly high given the county's minimal overall risk. Tornado risk (8.17), flood risk (3.47), and earthquake risk (5.82) all pose negligible concern.

Wildfire coverage is your only essential protection

Harding County homeowners should ensure their policies include wildfire coverage, as it represents virtually the entire natural hazard exposure in the county. Standard homeowners coverage may require riders for wildfire protection—verify your policy details.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Harding County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    83th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    8th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    6th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Harding County

Risk Verdict

Harding County's overall natural disaster score at the 1th percentile puts it well below the national median for hazard exposure. Residents of Harding County can use the 1th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Harding County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 83th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 8th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (6th percentile), flood (3th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire ranked at the 83th percentile nationally, Harding County is in a zone where air quality can deteriorate rapidly before structures are threatened. An N95 respirator and a HEPA air purifier are practical items for Harding County households to have on hand before fire season. The county's tornado exposure at the 8th percentile nationally complements the wildfire risk — saturating rain after burn scarring often triggers secondary flood and debris flow events. Defensible space, insurance review, and an evacuation plan are the three preparedness pillars for Harding County households — and the insurance review is the one most often deferred by Harding County residents and most costly to skip when a fire event actually occurs.

Regional Context

Harding County's composite risk score sits 25.3 points below the South Dakota county average, reflecting a more favorable hazard environment than the state typical.

Is your household prepared for Harding 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 Harding County, SD?
Harding County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 1th 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 Harding County?
Harding County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (83th percentile), tornado (8th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile), flooding (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 83th 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 Harding County risk compare to the South Dakota average?
Harding County's composite risk percentile is 1th, compared to the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Harding County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Dakota.
Is Harding County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Harding County's wildfire risk is at the 83th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Harding County is at the 3th 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 Harding County a safe place to live?
Harding County's composite risk score of 1th 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 83th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Jones County

South Dakota

-0.2

Very Low

1th percentile

Perkins County

South Dakota

+1.1

Very Low

3th percentile

Miner County

South Dakota

+1.9

Very Low

3th 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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