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Nemaha County, Kansas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 105highest risk in Kansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Nemaha County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $8.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $814 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Nemaha County

$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$701,930 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 400 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low23.3
$3M
TornadoLow58.3
$2M
WildfireLow82.8
$702K
Heat waveLow51.1
$495K
HailLow54.6
$401K
Strong windLow32.0
$397K
DroughtLow53.3
$233K
Ice stormModerate60.2
$171K
Cold waveVery Low12.8
$150K
Winter weatherLow57.9
$107K
LightningVery Low19.8
$85K
EarthquakeVery Low21.9
$42K
LandslideVery Low49.6
$2K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Nemaha County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 22, 1984Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 20, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 519 storm reports in Nemaha County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $12 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 28, 2013 near Centralia.

39tornadoes
245hail reports, largest 4 inches
193damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 28, 2013EF3Centralia0 / 0
Jun 3, 2014EF3Bern2 / 0
May 21, 2019EF3Bern0 / 0
May 6, 1993F2Centralia0 / 0
Jun 13, 1998F2Sabetha0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 6, 1993TornadoCentralia$5M
Jun 13, 1998TornadoSabetha$4M
Jul 1, 1997HailWoodlawn$790K
Jul 1, 1994Thunderstorm WindSeneca$550K
May 6, 2007Flash FloodSabetha$400K
Apr 5, 1999TornadoSeneca$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Nemaha County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$52,963paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $26,036 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Nemaha County

$217,200median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 4,512 housing units.

Compare in Kansas

All 105 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Johnson CountyHighInland flooding
Sedgwick CountyHighInland flooding
Shawnee CountyModerateInland flooding
Wyandotte CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyLowInland flooding
Leavenworth CountyLowInland flooding
Riley CountyLowInland flooding
Butler CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Pottawatomie CountyVery Low18
Jackson CountyVery Low18
Marshall CountyVery Low17
Brown CountyVery Low17
Richardson County, NEVery Low21
Pawnee County, NEVery Low18

Common questions about Nemaha County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nemaha County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Nemaha County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Nemaha County had?

Nemaha County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Nemaha County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd highest of 105 in Kansas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Nemaha County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Nemaha County had?

NOAA records list 39 tornadoes in Nemaha County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 28, 2013 near Centralia. The weather service has also logged 245 hail reports and 39 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.