Photo: Bp0 at English Wikipedia · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Watertown than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watertown gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #25 of 35 in South Dakota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 369 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Watertown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Watertown 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 Watertown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Watertown, and Watertown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 12%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C #25 of 35 in South Dakota; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Watertown’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical South Dakota town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Watertown has more expected damage per building than 71% of South Dakota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.9M a year in losses across Watertown: $10.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Watertown flood? Yes: 369 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Watertown, from FEMA’s records: 33.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding43 claims · $326K
- The Midwest Flooding20 claims · $119K
- The Late spring storms3 claims · $31K
Watertown is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Codington County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Watertown
Disasters that paid out in Watertown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Watertown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Flooding$146K to the City of Watertown for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$637K to the City of Watertown for repairs
- 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$269K to the City of Watertown for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm$43K to the City of Watertown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$326K to the City of Watertown for repairs
- 2011Flooding$182K to the City of Watertown for repairs37 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2010Flooding$102K to the City of Watertown for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storm$62K to the City of Watertown for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$307K to the City of Watertown for repairs54 flood claims paid that year
Codington County has had 20 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 Watertown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Watertown archive →Watertown and its neighbors
Watertown has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 369 |
| Lake Township | — | 851 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Elmira Township | — | 345 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Sheridan Township | — | 445 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pelican Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Richland Township | — | 112 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Watertown 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.
- Watertown residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Watertown
Is Watertown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watertown has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #25 of 35 in South Dakota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Watertown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 369 claims in Watertown since 1979, $5.8M in all, or 33.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 33 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Severe flooding (43).
Is Watertown 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 Codington County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Watertown?
Watertown is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Watertown?
By FEMA money that reached Watertown, Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2022): $637K to the City of Watertown for repairs. By flood claims, Severe flooding: 43 paid, $326K.
Is Watertown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Watertown’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Watertown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Watertown’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.