Brown County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Brown County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $2.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $937 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds and flooding). 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 Brown County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 31.8 | $550K | ||
| Drought | 67.9 | $548K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.3 | $498K | ||
| Hail | 62.0 | $489K | ||
| Tornado | 19.3 | $267K | ||
| Strong wind | 14.2 | $138K | ||
| Wildfire | 58.5 | $92K | ||
| Winter weather | 37.2 | $49K | ||
| Heat wave | 13.1 | $35K | ||
| Lightning | 7.1 | $27K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.9 | $13K | ||
| Ice storm | 15.6 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 20.2 | $144 |
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 Brown 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 455 storm reports in Brown County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $14.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 7, 1979.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 1979 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 8, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1971 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 1984 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 1997 | Hail | Johnstown | $5M |
| Jul 7, 1979 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 30, 1997 | Hail | Ainsworth | $1M |
| Jul 19, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $1M |
| Aug 30, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $800K |
| Jun 30, 1997 | Flash Flood | Long Pine | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 Brown 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 Brown 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; 1,656 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry County | 9 | |
| Rock County | 12 | |
| Keya Paha County | 11 | |
| Loup County | 12 | |
| Blaine County | 10 |
Common questions about Brown County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Brown County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Brown County, about $550,192 a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $547,575.
How many federal disasters has Brown County had?
Brown County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Brown County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th 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 Brown 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 Brown County had?
NOAA records list 38 tornadoes in Brown County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 7, 1979. The weather service has also logged 284 hail reports and 12 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.