Banner County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Banner County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 84th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $1.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,340 per resident. Since 1997 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). 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 Banner County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 66.9 | $584K | ||
| Hail | 49.7 | $352K | ||
| Inland flooding | 0.9 | $286K | ||
| Cold wave | 13.1 | $169K | ||
| Tornado | 7.6 | $54K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.6 | $51K | ||
| Wildfire | 42.1 | $40K | ||
| Winter weather | 10.1 | $10K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.7 | $9K | ||
| Lightning | 1.4 | $7K | ||
| Earthquake | 3.1 | $4K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.6 | $721 | ||
| Landslide | 6.1 | $14 |
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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Banner 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 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 215 storm reports in Banner County since 1956 and about $4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1985 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 2005 | F2 | Harrisburg | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 1987 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 30, 1996 | F1 | Harrisburg | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1985 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 2, 1997 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $500K |
| Jun 27, 2005 | Tornado | Harrisburg | $300K |
| Jun 23, 1987 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 5, 1996 | Flood | East | $110K |
| Jun 2, 2024 | Hail | Harrisburg | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Banner 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 Banner 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; 383 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie County, WY | 3 | |
| Scotts Bluff County | 8 | |
| Goshen County, WY | 3 | |
| Cheyenne County | 8 | |
| Morrill County | 15 | |
| Kimball County | 6 |
Common questions about Banner County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Banner County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Banner County, about $583,939 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $352,351.
How many federal disasters has Banner County had?
Banner County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1997, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2024.
Is Banner County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 84th 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 Banner 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 Banner County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Banner County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1985. The weather service has also logged 132 hail reports and 10 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.