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Burt County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
49th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$9Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Burt County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hail. FEMA estimates about $8.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,291 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 63 claims here, including $739,000 for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Burt County

$2.6 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
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 38 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low18.8
$3M
DroughtModerate85.4
$1M
HailModerate84.8
$1M
TornadoLow46.6
$1M
Cold waveLow39.2
$746K
Strong windLow41.1
$498K
WildfireLow78.4
$409K
Heat waveVery Low31.1
$168K
Ice stormLow29.4
$36K
LightningVery Low7.0
$26K
EarthquakeVery Low7.8
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low8.5
$7K
LandslideVery Low56.7
$3K

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Burt County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood6
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Oct 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Aug 20, 1999Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 289 storm reports in Burt County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 37 injuries and about $10.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on July 15, 1950.

22tornadoes
109hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
136damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 15, 1950F4–33 / 0
May 27, 1991F3–2 / 0
May 28, 1991F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1960F2–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 15, 1950Tornado–$3M
Jul 7, 1977Tornado–$3M
May 27, 1991Tornado–$3M
Mar 22, 2011TornadoCraig$1M
Aug 7, 1999Flash FloodTekamah$500K
Jun 17, 1984Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 23, 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 Burt County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
18.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 63 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $739,413 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 Burt County

$147,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1956median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.3%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; 3,333 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
Dodge CountyLow19
Washington CountyVery Low22
Harrison County, IAVery Low22
Cuming CountyLow22
Monona County, IAVery Low18
Thurston CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Burt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Burt County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Burt County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Burt County had?

Burt County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2025.

Is Burt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 Burt County?

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

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Burt County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on July 15, 1950. The weather service has also logged 109 hail reports and 19 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.