Chase County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Chase County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,234 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2011 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds and flooding). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Chase County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 86.1 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 3.7 | $754K | ||
| Cold wave | 34.1 | $676K | ||
| Drought | 68.0 | $619K | ||
| Tornado | 25.3 | $494K | ||
| Strong wind | 25.1 | $317K | ||
| Lightning | 22.6 | $103K | ||
| Heat wave | 12.0 | $33K | ||
| Winter weather | 24.3 | $30K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.6 | $23K | ||
| Wildfire | 25.1 | $14K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.3 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 5.1 | $10 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Chase 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 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 582 storm reports in Chase County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $44.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 1, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 1960 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1984 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2019 | EF1 | Imperial | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 1990 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Aug 17, 1999 | Hail | Imperial | $5M |
| Aug 21, 1997 | Hail | Imperial | $3M |
| Aug 21, 1997 | Hail | Imperial | $3M |
| Jul 19, 2024 | Hail | Lamar | $2M |
| Jun 4, 2008 | Hail | Champion | $650K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Chase 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 Chase 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; 1,870 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yuma County, CO | 5 | |
| Phillips County, CO | 4 | |
| Perkins County | 8 | |
| Dundy County | 10 | |
| Hayes County | 17 |
Common questions about Chase County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Chase County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Chase County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $754,105.
How many federal disasters has Chase County had?
Chase County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2011.
Is Chase County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Chase 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 Chase County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Chase County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 1, 1990. The weather service has also logged 350 hail reports and 13 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.