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Adams County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
9th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$30Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

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

Hail

High
$11.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.8 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.
$4.7 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh98.7
$12M
TornadoModerate79.6
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low32.8
$5M
Strong windHigh92.9
$3M
DroughtHigh91.9
$2M
LightningHigh90.0
$1M
Ice stormHigh84.6
$726K
Heat waveLow50.6
$477K
Cold waveVery Low18.9
$253K
Winter weatherLow59.7
$111K
EarthquakeVery Low24.7
$54K
WildfireVery Low42.7
$38K
LandslideVery Low6.7
$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

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jun 23, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

56tornadoes
401hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
266damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 5, 1964F5–20 / 2
Apr 5, 1978F2–0 / 0
May 2, 1999F2Kenesaw0 / 0
Jun 2, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1990F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 11, 2005HailHastings$43M
May 23, 2019LightningHastings$19M
May 11, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$15M
Jun 7, 2022HailHastings$12M
Jul 9, 2014HailKenesaw$11M
Jul 9, 2014Thunderstorm WindKenesaw$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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (71 policies)
18.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$282,462paid on 25 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $226,549 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 Adams County

$193,100median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.5%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; 13,934 housing units.

Compare in Nebraska

All 93 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Douglas CountyHighInland flooding
Lancaster CountyModerateTornado
Sarpy CountyModerateTornado
Hall CountyLowInland flooding
Buffalo CountyLowHail
Dodge CountyLowInland flooding
Scotts Bluff CountyLowHail
Madison CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Hall CountyLow15
Buffalo CountyLow17
Hamilton CountyVery Low21
Kearney CountyVery Low14
Clay CountyLow17
Webster CountyLow14

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.