Tea’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tea gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #5 of 35 in South Dakota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then tornadoes (28%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2018.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Tea faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Tea’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tea, and Tea’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 28%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B #5 of 35 in South Dakota; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Tea’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical South Dakota town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Tea has less expected damage per building than 88% of South Dakota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Tea: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tea flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tea, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Tea isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lincoln County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tea
Disasters that paid out in Tea itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tea), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding23 households applied for aid$74K aid approved$19K to the City of Tea for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Tornado, and Flooding$1K to the City of Tea for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the City of Tea for repairs
Lincoln County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Tea after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tea archive →Tea and its neighbors
Tea has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Delapre Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Tea faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Tea
Is Tea at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tea has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #5 of 35 in South Dakota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and tornadoes (28%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tea flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Tea since 2018, $2K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Tea in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Lincoln County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tea?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tea’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Tea?
By FEMA money that reached Tea, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2024): 23 households applied for aid, $74K approved, and $19K to the City of Tea for repairs.
Is Tea at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Tea’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tea.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tea’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.