Hamlin County, SD Environment & Hazard Risk

• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$203K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HailRelatively Low$489K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.3 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 13 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$90K/yr expected annual loss, about 22 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$59.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,924 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$683K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.1 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$98.7K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.4 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$980K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Heat waveVery Low$160K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.0 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$147/yr expected annual loss, about once every 20 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$11.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4,184 years
• LightningVery Low$10.2K/yr expected annual loss, about 34 events a year

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: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

61 of 3,646 (1.7%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

0

Flood claims since 1978

347

Claims paid since 1978

$4.5M

• Hail171
• Thunderstorm Wind80 · 1 death
• Blizzard57
• Flood52
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill37
• High Wind30
• Heavy Snow29 · 1 death
• Winter Storm26
• Drought22
• Flash Flood18

• Dense Fog01/18/2010

  Hamlin

  3 deaths, 2 injured

  What happened

  Dense freezing fog created very low visibilities to 1/16 of a mile along with icy roads which contributed to a multi-vehicle wreck 11 miles south of Watertown. The accident killed three people and injured two others. Five vehicles, including a grain truck, were involved in the wreck about 930 am near the intersection of U.S. Highway 81 and State Highway 22.

• Winter Weather04/15/2011

  Hamlin

  2 deaths, 1 injured

  What happened

  One male and one female in their late twenties were killed around 830 am CDT on the 15th on a slushy U.S. Highway 81. The third person in the car was injured-non life threatening. The car they were driving was hit by a large truck.

• Thunderstorm Wind78 kt wind06/21/2013

  Stone Bridge, Hamlin County

  1 death, 2 injured, $215K damage

  What happened

  Severe tree and structural damage occurred on Lake Poinsett with ninety mph winds. A woman was killed and her husband was seriously injured when their lake house was destroyed. A man was also hospitalized for electric shock.

• Heavy Snow03/10/2021

  Hamlin

  1 death, 1 injured

  What happened

  An area of low pressure tracked through the Central Plains, and brought heavy snow across portions of central and northeastern South Dakota from the morning of the 10th through the early morning of the 11th. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 8 inches accumulated. Some of the highest amounts included 7 inches at Milbank and in the Watertown area, and 8 inches at Clark and 7 miles WNW of Ames. Road conditions became treacherous and led to several vehicle accidents. One such accident resulted in a fatality in Hamlin County.

• Flood06/01/2019

  Hazel, Hamlin County

  $10.9M damage

  What happened

  Spring snowmelt and heavy rain flooding from March, April, and May continued into June. This combined with above normal June rainfall resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of crops damaged or unplanted across central and northeast South Dakota. For the entire state of South Dakota, nearly 4 million acres of crops were left unplanted as a result of the flooding. Total damaged or unplanted crop loss estimates for central and northeast South Dakota were near 307 million dollars.

• Hail1" hail06/22/2017

  Castlewood, Hamlin County

  2 injured

  What happened

  An early morning storm system impacted parts of central and northeast South Dakota. While large hail fell in the Pierre area, parts of Hamlin and Deuel counties were the hardest hit experiencing winds over 80 mph along with large hail. Northwest of Castlewood, multiple power poles were downed blocking the intersection of Highways 81 and 22. In the city of Castlewood, winds caused structural and extensive tree damage, with wind-driven hail breaking windows and punching holes in siding. The assisted living center was evacuated due to damage on the north end of the building. Two of the residents at the center received minor injuries from broken glass. No travel was advised in the city due to debris blocking roadways. Further southeast, hail up to the size of golf balls damaged homes in the town of Astoria. Significant crop damage was also noted along the path of this storm.

• Sioux Rural Water SystemServes 4,280 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Clark Rural Water SystemServes 2,325 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• EstellineServes 749 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation
• CastlewoodServes 698 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation
• Lake NordenServes 554 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• BryantServes 471 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation
• HaytiServes 393 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations