riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Pennington County Disaster Risk

Pennington County, South Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

79th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#3

of 66 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

76th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 97% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 61% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Pennington County

Risk Verdict

Pennington County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 79th 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 Pennington County, scoring in the 97th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 76th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (61th), earthquake (57th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Pennington 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 flood 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

Pennington County is significantly riskier than the average county in South Dakota. Its composite risk score is 51.7 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Pennington County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Pennington County, SD?
Pennington County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 79th 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 Pennington County?
Pennington County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (97th percentile), flooding (76th percentile), tornado (61th percentile), earthquake (57th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 97th 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 Pennington County risk compare to the South Dakota average?
Pennington County's composite risk percentile is 79th, compared to the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Pennington County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in South Dakota.
Is Pennington County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Pennington County's wildfire risk is at the 97th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Pennington County is at the 76th 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 Pennington County higher risk than average?
Pennington County's composite risk score of 79th percentile is above the South Dakota state average of 27th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (97th percentile), along with flooding and tornado and earthquake 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

Dewey County

South Dakota

+0.2

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Brown County

South Dakota

-5.0

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Minnehaha County

South Dakota

+11.0

Relatively Moderate

90th 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.

Explore more data for Pennington County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score