Fewest Natural Disasters: South Dakota, Iowa, or Minnesota?

In the Upper Midwest, it seems like we just trade one extreme weather season for another as we move throughout each year. From the potential of flooding during our rainy springs, to oppressive heat, humidity, and potential of severe storms in the summer, to the massive ice and snow events of the winter months.

Still, it could be worse.

Two big natural disaster events that put millions at risk are virtually non-existent in our neck of the woods: earthquakes and hurricanes.

The lack of those two factored heavily into recent rankings by the website The Travel of the 'U.S. States with Lower Risks of Natural Disasters.'

Right there as the number two safest place in America is Minnesota, with 61 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion from 1980-2024, according the National Centers for Environmental Information:

Severe Storms: 38
Drought: 12
Floods: 5
Winter Storms: 3
Wildfires: 2
Freeze Events: 1

And while that translates to just a little more than one event a year, it's not as impressive as the website would have you believe.

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Just look at neighboring South Dakota.

During that same time frame, the Mount Rushmore State had 26 fewer weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion (35):

Severe Storms: 15
Drought: 13
Floods: 4
Wildfires: 2
Freeze Events: 1

In the Tri-State area, Iowa is the most prone to natural disasters, with 84 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion between 1980 and 2024:

Severe Storms: 57
Drought: 15
Floods: 7
Winter Storms: 3
Freeze Events: 2

Nationally, hurricanes are the deadliest natural disaster, killing an average of 160 people per year.

LOOK: Biggest Tornadoes in Minnesota of the Past Decade

Stacker compiled a list of the biggest tornadoes in Minnesota over the past decade using data from NOAA.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

Do You Remember These 10 Crazy Snowstorms In South Dakota?

Here's some news that some South Dakotans prefer not to hear this time of year. Winter is coming. In denial? The dropping temperatures and early snowstorms out west by Deadwood speak for themselves.

Slowly but surely, people of the Sioux Empire are bracing for colder weather and snow-covered roads. Even though snow will soon be gracing the Sioux Empire with its presence, some snow showers will not compare to these ten dreadful snowstorms that hit South Dakota.

Only In Your State highlights these ten snowstorms in South Dakota as a reminder for people to always be aware of the roads during the winter. These South Dakotan winters can be harsh, which is why it is always a good idea to plan ahead and prepare for the worst.

Do you remember any major snowstorms that hit South Dakota?

Gallery Credit: Christine Manika

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

Filed Under: Iowa, Minnesota, Weather

Categories: Articles, News, Newsletter, South Dakota