Butte County
South Dakota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 23th
Butte County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 23.3, 23th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $865K |
| Hail | Medium | 4.62 / yr | $686K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 16.48 / yr | $125K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 6.74 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.45 / yr | $522K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.71 / yr | $4M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.48 / yr | $391 |
| Lightning | Low | 36.46 / yr | $106K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $63K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.38 / yr | $318K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $18K |
| Drought | Very Low | 48.76 / yr | $4K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $30K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Butte County?
Butte County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 23.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 23th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Butte County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $865K EAL), Hail (Medium, $686K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $125K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Butte County compare to other South Dakota counties?
Butte County ranks #31 of 66 South Dakota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Butte County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.