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Boyd County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
76th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$4Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Boyd County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 76th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $3.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,950 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $313,000 on 18 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Boyd County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$883,404 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 37 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$776,857 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low6.0
$1M
DroughtModerate73.8
$883K
Cold waveLow36.4
$777K
HailLow36.2
$211K
TornadoVery Low14.4
$179K
Strong windVery Low8.1
$80K
WildfireVery Low52.4
$73K
Ice stormLow29.5
$42K
Winter weatherLow30.7
$42K
LightningVery Low6.8
$30K
Heat waveVery Low7.1
$14K
EarthquakeVery Low3.4
$5K
LandslideVery Low13.1
$64

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 Boyd County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm6
Drought1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 258 storm reports in Boyd County since 1955, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $24.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 21, 1962.

11tornadoes
165hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
65damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 21, 1962F3–0 / 0
May 14, 1962F3–8 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F1–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F1–0 / 0
Jun 20, 1975F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 14, 2019Flash FloodMonowi$12M
Mar 13, 2019FloodLynch$5M
Mar 13, 2019FloodButte$3M
Mar 13, 2019FloodNaper$1M
Mar 13, 2019FloodButte$500K
May 21, 1962Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 Boyd County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
3.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$313,327paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $160,608 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 Boyd County

$104,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1953median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
80%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.3%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; 1,203 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
Holt CountyVery Low14
Charles Mix County, SDLow15
Knox CountyVery Low16
Gregory County, SDVery Low20
Rock CountyVery Low12
Keya Paha CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Boyd County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Boyd County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Boyd County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $883,404.

How many federal disasters has Boyd County had?

Boyd County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.

Is Boyd County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 76th 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 Boyd County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Boyd 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 Boyd County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Boyd County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 21, 1962. The weather service has also logged 165 hail reports and 15 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.