Custer County, SD Environment & Hazard Risk

• WildfireRelatively Moderate$4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 129 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$127K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$2,147/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HailRelatively Low$292K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.2 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$63.3K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,689 years
• LightningRelatively Low$123K/yr expected annual loss, about 45 events a year
• Cold waveVery Low$399K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.0 events a year
• TornadoVery Low$396K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• DroughtVery Low$1,634/yr expected annual loss, about 63 events a year
• Strong windVery Low$185K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.5 events a year
• Heat waveVery Low$8,105/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Ice stormVery Low$1,745/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years
• AvalancheVery Low$1/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

44 of 5,843 (0.8%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

325

Insured in high-risk zones

41 (13%)

Flood claims since 1978

50

Claims paid since 1978

$646K

• Hail653
• Winter Storm230
• Thunderstorm Wind225
• High Wind162
• Winter Weather145
• Heavy Snow66
• Blizzard43
• Flash Flood22
• Flood20
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill17

• Flash Flood08/18/2007

  Hermosa, Custer County

  $3M damage

  What happened

  Heavy rain estimated at four to six inches fell west of Hermosa between 6 pm and 8 pm MST. Battle and Grace Coolidge Creeks overflowed their banks and several dry canyons filled with water and drained into the creeks. State highways 40 and 36 were flooded in numerous spots. A river gauge on Battle Creek just east of Hermosa crested at 14.91 feet at 9 pm, rising from 2.63 ft at 7:30 pm and above the flood stage of 8.0 feet. About six inches of water covered Highway 79 at the Battle Creek bridge. A railroad bridge about 3/4 mile downstream became clogged with debris and water rose behind the embankment and flooded six homes. At about 8:30 pm MST, a section of the embankment failed, flooding a new subdivision on the other side. All of the approximately 20 houses were damaged; three homes were washed off their foundations, and one of those houses was carried a half a mile east of the subdivision by the flowing water. There were no injuries.

• Hail2" hail09/05/2013

  Custer, Custer County

  $2M damage

  What happened

  Hail damaged vehicles and property.

• High Wind70 kt wind07/01/1997

  Southern Black Hills

  2 injured

  What happened

  At Custer, a boy was reported to have minor injuries from flying debris. Also near Custer, a girl was injured by a falling limb. Major damage occurred to a store in Custer when winds ripped off a large portion of he face of the store and part of the roof. Much of the city lost power for several hours when poles were snapped by the strong winds. Lagre trees were split and knocked down across Custer State Park.

• Blizzard04/19/2000

  Central Black Hills

  $1.5M damage

• Flash Flood08/02/2019

  Custer, Custer County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  Significant flooding occurred on French Creek from the Custer Limestone area downstream to Stockade Lake, including the City of Custer. Several smaller tributaries into French Creek, including Ruby Creek, also flooded. Flash flooding inundated Custer Limestone Road just east of the intersection of Forest Service 284 and Forest Service 285, French Creek Road at Hoover Court, Highway 16, Highway 16A, Highway 89, Custer Street, South 4th Street, French Creek Drive, Gordon Street, 7th Street, 8th Street, Washington Street, Sidney Park, Granite Valley Drive, and Iron Creek Road. Several homes and businesses were also flooded.

• Lightning05/27/2014

  Buffalo Gap, Custer County

  1 injured

  What happened

  A lightning bolt hit a storm chaser as he was filming a storm. The charge traveled to the ground and blew a hole in the pavement. The chaser's car and another car were disabled.

• CusterServes 1,919 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Southern Black Hills WaterServes 947 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Hermosa-Old SystemServes 420 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Spring Creek AcresServes 172 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Buffalo GapServes 126 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Hermosa Water Users AssociationServes 108 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Heartland Country RanchettesServes 95 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Rock Ridge CourtServes 74 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+31 monitoring or reporting