South Dakota OEM - Listing of Past Natural Hazards Occurences and Disasters

LISTING OF PAST NATURAL HAZARDS
OCCURRENCES AND DISASTERS

Mar/Jul 1994	Flood -- (FEMA-1031-DR-SD) Flooding in northeastern South Dakota began in mid-February 1994, as a result of very high residual groundwater tables from 1993's extremely high levels of precipitation (snow and rain), and rapid melting of the snowpack. Flooding continued into late March 1994, and then subsided. Rain has continued throughout the spring and summer months but the remainder of the snow melt was gradual and did not significantly contribute to flooding, as might be expected. On July 6, 1994, a significant storm system passed through central and northeastern South Dakota. Severe winds caused damage in the Pierre area and the town of Milbank in Grant County received approximately 6 inches of rain in a matter of two to three hours. The thunderstorm in Milbank caused that town's storm and sanitary sewer systems to overload and water backed into basements of several homes. Damage estimates suggest approximately $4 million. The vast majority of damage is to county and township roads (which have significantly deteriorated because of saturation from near ground level water tables), culverts, and bridges. Many roads remain under water, as once-small (or dry) glacial lakes with no drainage outlets, grow in size and encroach upon nearby roadways. In 1995 total damages provided by the Department of Commerce, National Weather Service to be $36,451,000. Two deaths resulted from the blizzard portion of this disaster.
Sep 5, 1993	Earthquake -- Intensity III --- Deadwood (2.7 Richter)
1993	Wildfires -- 44 fires burning 678 acres.
Summer 1993	Tornado (Arlington) -- Minor damage.
Jun 14, 1993	Tornado (Pierre) -- Three homes damaged. No deaths.
Mar/Sep 1993	Flood -- (FEMA-999-DR-SD) Early and rapid snow melt resulted in the localized flooding along portions of the three eastern river basins. Major problems began in May when severe weather spawned tornadoes and floods in five eastern counties, injuring 12 and killing 1 person. Heavy rains continued throughout May, June, and July which included a 6.5 inch deluge May 23rd on Sioux Falls that backed up sewage into 190 basements and damaged city streets. By the end of June the Big Sioux River was over a mile wide in places, flooding many communities along its banks. During early July the swollen Vermillion and James rivers inundated thousands of acres of farmland and surrounding communities. Heavy July rains developed flash flood torrents on small drainages in Madison and Yankton, while rising lake levels flooded numerous communities situated on lake shores. Overall, the disaster contributed to four deaths, approximately $2 million damage to business, $12 million damage to public facilities, $10 million to private residences, and $204 million to agriculture. Federal aid system roads received $3 million.
1992	Wildfires -- 958 fires burning 20,367 acres.
May/Jul 1992	Drought -- 28 counties declared by governor as drought disasters. May 13: Butte, Charles Mix, Corson, Dewey, Haakon, and Ziebach. June 8: Buffalo, Harding, Hyde, Jones, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins, and Stanley. June 17: Jerauld, Sully, Tripp, and Walworth. June 24: Douglas, Hughes, Lyman. July 2: Aurora, Bon Homme, Campbell, Edmunds, Hand, Jackson, and Todd. Flood -- (FEMA-948-DR-SD) On June 13/14 a major spring storm resulted in severe weather in Harding County. Golf ball size hail and 10½ inches of rain occurred in a three hour time span. Crops were destroyed and over 500 sheep were killed. On the afternoon and evening of the 16th several violent thunderstorms (super cells) produced large amounts of rain and several large, damaging tornadoes. Heavy rain was experienced in the Davison, Miner, Kingsbury, Lyman, Buffalo, Moody, Brookings, Deuel, Minnehaha, and Hamlin Counties. The heavy rains occurred in an area already saturated by previous rains. Over a 2 to 3 day period 15 to 20 inches of rain fell in the Clear Lake/Watertown area resulting in widespread flooding of the Big Sioux River. The rains subsided late in the week. Some flooding was experienced by South Dakotans as far south as Sioux Falls. Tornado (Arlington) -- Minor damage.
1991	Wildfires -- 815 fires burning 43,782 acres.
Oct 25, 1990	Earthquake -- Intensity V --- Aurora County N of Plankinton and WSW of Storla.
1990	Wildfires -- 860 fires burning 11,725 acres.
Mar 2, 1990	Earthquake -- Intensity IV --- Shannon County N of Manderson.
Jan 28, 1990	Earthquake -- Intensity V --- Shannon County N of Manderson.
Nov 26, 1989	Earthquake -- Intensity III --- Walworth County near Lowery.
1989	Wildfires -- 911 fires burning 14,779 acres.
Jul 25, 1988	Wildfire (Westberry Trails) -- FEMA-2068-FSA-SD: Suspected arson fire and was located in a subdivision on the western edge of Rapid City. Burned 3,980 acres.
1988	Drought -- Statewide. Regional impact varied.
1988	Wildfires -- 1,171 fires burning 69,512 acres.
Oct 15, 1987	Earthquake -- Intensity III --- Beadle County NE of Wessington.
Jul 20, 1987	Wildfire (Battle Mountain) -- FEMA-2061-FSA-SD: Started by lightening in the game production area, two miles from Hot Springs. Burned 2,200 acres.
1987	Wildfires -- 1,638 fires burning 52,277 acres.
Jul 9, 1987	Earthquake -- Intensity III --- Beadle County near Virgil.
1986	Wildfires -- 478 fires burning 3,572 acres.
May 25, 1986	Earthquake -- Intensity IV --- Sanborn County slightly NE of Storla.
Mar 22, 1986	Flood -- (FEMA-764-DR-SD) The above average Fall rains and heavy winter storms during 1985-86 created a condition of supersaturated ground and record water levels in the lakes and Big Sioux River basin in the NE part of the state. The snow melt run-off into the numerous lakes forced the already full lakes to overflow and seriously impact residences, cottages, resort business, and agri-business. A severe winter storm covered the entire state during the week of April 14th, adding 1-3 inches of precipitation to this area. Damages related to the flooding were estimated to be: $20.6 million - Agricultural, $3.0 million - Public, $620,000 - Business (non-farming), and $1.7 million - Individual. Total damages: approximately $25.9 million.
1985-1987	Drought -- Western ½ of State during 1985; continued in Black Hills during 1986-1987. Rated as a 10 to 25 year event.
1985	Wildfires -- 1,229 fires burning 110,669 acres.

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