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Cass County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
28th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$15Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 33homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cass County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $578 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). About 1 in 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance (403 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.6 million on 410 claims here, including $5.6 million for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Cass County

$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Hail

Moderate
$1.8 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 floodingLow37.0
$7M
TornadoLow63.1
$3M
HailModerate84.7
$2M
Cold waveLow37.4
$904K
Strong windLow49.6
$831K
DroughtModerate69.0
$754K
Heat waveLow53.3
$667K
WildfireLow74.1
$367K
Ice stormModerate67.0
$284K
LightningVery Low21.8
$115K
Winter weatherLow29.0
$43K
EarthquakeVery Low11.7
$18K
LandslideLow71.5
$10K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood8
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Fire1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Oct 21, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 9, 2023Waconda-Beaver Lake Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2021Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Oct 21, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornado, and Straight-LinMajor disaster
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
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 586 storm reports in Cass County since 1952, with 1 death and 19 injuries and about $24.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 13, 1952.

52tornadoes
258hail reports, largest 5 inches
198damaging thunderstorm winds
69floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 13, 1952F4–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1984F2–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1984F2–0 / 0
May 9, 2016EF2Nehawka0 / 0
Dec 15, 2021EF2Murray0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 2019FloodOreapolis$15M
Jun 12, 1984Tornado–$3M
Jul 28, 1996HailPlattsmouth$1M
Jul 24, 1995HailPlattsmouth$1M
Mar 23, 2009TornadoAlvo$1M
Mar 17, 2010FloodPlattsmouth$625K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Cass County

Check your address flood zone ›
3%of homes have federal flood insurance (403 policies)
29.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.6 millionpaid on 410 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $5.6 million 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 Cass County

$254,900median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.9%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; 11,875 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
Lancaster CountyModerate14
Sarpy CountyModerate23
Saunders CountyVery Low28
Otoe CountyVery Low21
Mills County, IAVery Low18
Fremont County, IAVery Low17

Common questions about Cass County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cass County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cass County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Cass County had?

Cass County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is Cass County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 28th 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 Cass County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 33 homes in Cass 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 Cass County had?

NOAA records list 52 tornadoes in Cass County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 13, 1952. The weather service has also logged 258 hail reports and 69 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.