How Likely Is a Tornado in Faulk County, SD?
How likely is a tornado in Faulk County, SD?
Faulk County has recorded 22 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.5 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Faulk County sees more tornado activity than 54% of US counties. Among 66 South Dakota counties in this dataset, Faulk County ranks 48 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
19 weak and 3 significant tornadoes make up Faulk County's 22-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Faulk County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. South Dakota has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for South Dakota this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Tornado outbreaks routinely knock out power across South Dakota for days, separately from any single house getting hit. A portable battery bank keeps a fridge, phone chargers and a radio running through that gap - cheaper and faster to set up than a generator.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Faulk County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 982 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Faulk County has about 2,136 residents.