Lawrence County in the Black Hills of western South Dakota anchored by Deadwood and Lead faces flash flooding from the canyon terrain and serious blizzard risk. The county hosts the Homestake Mine in Lead — the deepest gold mine in the Western Hemisphere now converted to the Sanford Underground Research Facility conducting dark matter research. The 1972 Rapid City flood originated in the Black Hills creating historical awareness of flash flood risk in the canyon terrain.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 5 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Blizzard |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 5 |
| Last Major Event | 2009 Flash Flooding |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (605) 578-1818 |
| Emergency Shelters | 4 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-90 US-85 SD-34 SD-179 |
// County Profile
| County | Lawrence County SD |
| State | South Dakota (SD) |
| Population | 25 |
| Area | 800 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other South Dakota Counties
Hand County SD
Tornado / Blizzard
6/10
Moderate
Lyman County SD
Tornado / Blizzard
6/10
Moderate
Deuel County SD
Tornado / Blizzard
6/10
Moderate
Spink County SD
Blizzard / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Minnehaha County SD
Tornado / Severe Storm
6/10
Moderate
Hanson County SD
Tornado / Blizzard
6/10
Moderate