Adams County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Adams County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 64% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $951 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (71 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $282,000 on 25 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Adams County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 98.7 | $12M | ||
| Tornado | 79.6 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 32.8 | $5M | ||
| Strong wind | 92.9 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 91.9 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 90.0 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 84.6 | $726K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.6 | $477K | ||
| Cold wave | 18.9 | $253K | ||
| Winter weather | 59.7 | $111K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.7 | $54K | ||
| Wildfire | 42.7 | $38K | ||
| Landslide | 6.7 | $16 |
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 Adams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 786 storm reports in Adams County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 27 injuries and about $258 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 5, 1964.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1964 | F5 | – | 20 / 2 |
| Apr 5, 1978 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1999 | F2 | Kenesaw | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2005 | Hail | Hastings | $43M |
| May 23, 2019 | Lightning | Hastings | $19M |
| May 11, 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $15M |
| Jun 7, 2022 | Hail | Hastings | $12M |
| Jul 9, 2014 | Hail | Kenesaw | $11M |
| Jul 9, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kenesaw | $11M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 2024. 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 Adams County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Adams County
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; 13,934 housing units.
Compare in Nebraska
All 93 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Lancaster County | Tornado | |
| Sarpy County | Tornado | |
| Hall County | Inland flooding | |
| Buffalo County | Hail | |
| Dodge County | Inland flooding | |
| Scotts Bluff County | Hail | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hall County | 15 | |
| Buffalo County | 17 | |
| Hamilton County | 21 | |
| Kearney County | 14 | |
| Clay County | 17 | |
| Webster County | 14 |
Cities in Adams County
Common questions about Adams County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Adams County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Adams County, about $11.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Adams County had?
Adams County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in February 2022.
Is Adams County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 9th highest of 93 in Nebraska. 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 Adams County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Adams County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Adams County had?
NOAA records list 56 tornadoes in Adams County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 5, 1964. The weather service has also logged 401 hail reports and 22 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.