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Cedar County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
46th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$9Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cedar County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hail. FEMA estimates about $9.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,118 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 27 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 Cedar County

$3.6 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
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 35 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 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 Low24.9
$4M
DroughtModerate85.6
$2M
HailModerate84.4
$1M
TornadoLow42.8
$1M
Strong windLow39.0
$490K
Cold waveLow27.0
$442K
WildfireLow71.2
$229K
Heat waveVery Low32.6
$189K
Ice stormLow49.9
$103K
Winter weatherLow56.9
$100K
LightningVery Low17.4
$72K
EarthquakeVery Low11.9
$15K
LandslideVery Low57.5
$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 very 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 Cedar County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood5
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
May 7, 1975Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1971FloodsMajor 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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 388 storm reports in Cedar County since 1953, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $16.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 23, 2003 near Coleridge.

31tornadoes
200hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
133damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 23, 2003F4Coleridge0 / 1
May 21, 1962F3–1 / 0
Jun 17, 2014EF3Coleridge0 / 0
May 16, 1992F2–0 / 0
May 30, 1959F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 23, 2003TornadoColeridge$4M
Aug 14, 1997HailHartington$3M
May 21, 1962Tornado–$3M
May 16, 1992Tornado–$3M
Jun 17, 2014TornadoColeridge$2M
Sep 18, 1997HailFordyce$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 29, 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 Cedar County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (27 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$23,727paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $23,727 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 Cedar County

$185,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.5%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; 3,899 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
Yankton County, SDLow14
Clay County, SDVery Low17
Wayne CountyVery Low16
Knox CountyVery Low16
Pierce CountyVery Low15
Dixon CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Cedar County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cedar County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cedar County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Cedar County had?

Cedar County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in July 2022.

Is Cedar County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 46th 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 Cedar County?

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

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Cedar County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 23, 2003 near Coleridge. The weather service has also logged 200 hail reports and 20 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.