riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Mellette County Disaster Risk

Mellette County, South Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

5th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#58

of 66 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

8th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% 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 19% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Mellette County

Risk Verdict

Mellette County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 5th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Mellette County, scoring in the 83th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 19th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (16th), flood (8th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Mellette 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

Mellette County is notably safer than the average county in South Dakota. Its composite risk score is 21.7 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Mellette County, SD?
Mellette County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 5th 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 Mellette County?
Mellette County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (83th percentile), tornado (19th percentile), earthquake (16th percentile), flooding (8th 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 Mellette County risk compare to the South Dakota average?
Mellette County's composite risk percentile is 5th, compared to the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Mellette County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Dakota.
Is Mellette County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Mellette County's wildfire risk is at the 83th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Mellette County is at the 8th 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 Mellette County a safe place to live?
Mellette County's composite risk score of 5th 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

Stanley County

South Dakota

-0.1

Very Low

5th percentile

Clark County

South Dakota

-0.6

Very Low

5th percentile

Bennett County

South Dakota

+0.8

Very Low

6th 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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