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Cherry County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$5Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cherry County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $889 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 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 Cherry County

$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$931,809 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 345 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.0
$2M
Cold waveLow56.8
$1M
WildfireLow88.4
$932K
DroughtModerate69.8
$439K
TornadoLow26.3
$339K
HailLow46.9
$198K
Winter weatherLow59.2
$75K
LightningVery Low19.5
$57K
Strong windVery Low9.3
$57K
Heat waveVery Low19.5
$50K
EarthquakeVery Low22.0
$29K
Ice stormLow30.8
$29K
LandslideVery Low60.0
$2K

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 moderate 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 Cherry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood2
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 2006Big Rock FireFire management
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor 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 1,468 storm reports in Cherry County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $9.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 15, 1962.

104tornadoes
945hail reports, largest 5 inches
390damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 15, 1962F3–6 / 0
Aug 11, 2011EF3Wood Lake0 / 0
Jul 19, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jul 10, 1977F2–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1999F2Brownlee0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 19, 1975Tornado–$3M
Jun 29, 2000HailMerriman$420K
Jun 29, 2000HailMerriman$420K
Jun 29, 2000HailMerriman$420K
Jun 29, 2000HailMerriman$420K
Jul 30, 2013HailValentine$400K

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 Cherry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Cherry County

$152,200median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%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; 3,009 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
Oglala Lakota County, SDLow14
Todd County, SDVery Low11
Tripp County, SDVery Low18
Sheridan CountyVery Low7
Bennett County, SDVery Low13
Brown CountyVery Low9
Keya Paha CountyVery Low11
Hooker CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Cherry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cherry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cherry County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Cherry County had?

Cherry County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Cherry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Cherry 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 Cherry County had?

NOAA records list 104 tornadoes in Cherry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 15, 1962. The weather service has also logged 945 hail reports and 18 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.