Arthur County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Arthur County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than almost every US county. It ranks 88th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $743,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,712 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (wildfires). No 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 Arthur County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 50.7 | $197K | ||
| Inland flooding | 0.5 | $175K | ||
| Hail | 24.6 | $117K | ||
| Wildfire | 57.9 | $96K | ||
| Cold wave | 7.7 | $65K | ||
| Tornado | 6.3 | $38K | ||
| Lightning | 7.3 | $30K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.6 | $17K | ||
| Winter weather | 6.4 | $6K | ||
| Earthquake | 1.3 | $2K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.9 | $1K | ||
| Ice storm | 0.8 | $449 | ||
| Landslide | 10.2 | $37 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Arthur County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1971
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 249 storm reports in Arthur County since 1971 and about $1.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 6, 2005 near Arthur.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 2005 | F1 | Arthur | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1991 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2007 | EF1 | Arthur | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 2004 | F0 | Arthur | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 2004 | F0 | Bucktail | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2011 | Hail | Arthur | $750K |
| May 18, 1977 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Aug 9, 2011 | Hail | Arthur | $200K |
| Jul 5, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arthur | $75K |
| Jul 4, 1998 | Flash Flood | Arthur | $50K |
| Aug 2, 2012 | Lightning | Arthur | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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 Arthur 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 Arthur 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; 232 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Keith County | 7 | |
| Garden County | 11 | |
| Hooker County | 4 | |
| Grant County | 5 | |
| McPherson County | 8 |
Common questions about Arthur County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Arthur County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Arthur County, about $196,594 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $174,558.
How many federal disasters has Arthur County had?
Arthur County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in June 2026.
Is Arthur County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 88th 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 Arthur 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 Arthur County had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Arthur County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 6, 2005 near Arthur. The weather service has also logged 182 hail reports and 2 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.