Blaine County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Blaine 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 86th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and drought. FEMA estimates about $695,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,613 per resident. Since 2001 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Blaine County
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 1.6 | $293K | ||
| Hail | 37.4 | $150K | ||
| Drought | 40.6 | $65K | ||
| Tornado | 10.2 | $61K | ||
| Wildfire | 50.8 | $46K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.3 | $40K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.8 | $13K | ||
| Winter weather | 15.9 | $12K | ||
| Heat wave | 4.8 | $5K | ||
| Lightning | 1.1 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.7 | $3K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.4 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 9.2 | $21 |
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 relatively moderate 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 Blaine 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 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 288 storm reports in Blaine County since 1955 and about $5.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 6, 1986.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 1979 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 2007 | EF1 | Dunning | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 20, 1955 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 1975 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 1979 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 6, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 5, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Brewster | $150K |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Purdum | $140K |
| Jun 10, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Brewster | $40K |
| Jul 16, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Brewster | $40K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 2025. 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 Blaine 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 Blaine 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; 301 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 18 | |
| Cherry County | 9 | |
| Brown County | 9 | |
| Logan County | 12 | |
| Thomas County | 8 | |
| Loup County | 12 |
Common questions about Blaine County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Blaine County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Blaine County, about $293,441 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $150,072.
How many federal disasters has Blaine County had?
Blaine County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2001, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Blaine County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 86th 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 Blaine County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Blaine 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 Blaine County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Blaine County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 6, 1986. The weather service has also logged 224 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.