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Cheyenne County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
35th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$12Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cheyenne County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hail. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,248 per resident. Since 1997 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $76,000 on 27 claims here.

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

Top risks in Cheyenne County

$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 80 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Moderate
$1.7 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 Low27.7
$4M
DroughtHigh91.7
$2M
HailModerate86.4
$2M
TornadoLow35.4
$879K
Ice stormHigh84.9
$771K
Cold waveLow37.2
$753K
LightningModerate63.2
$488K
Strong windLow34.9
$448K
Winter weatherLow53.7
$94K
EarthquakeVery Low24.0
$52K
WildfireVery Low43.4
$41K
Heat waveVery Low5.5
$9K
LandslideVery Low9.5
$32

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 Cheyenne County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1
Flood1

Most recent

May 24, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster

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 848 storm reports in Cheyenne County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $35.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1985.

69tornadoes
488hail reports, largest 4 inches
221damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 1985F3–0 / 0
Jun 27, 1960F3–1 / 0
Jul 1, 1958F2–0 / 0
Jun 20, 1960F2–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1977F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 26, 1999HailBrownson$26M
May 27, 1985Tornado–$3M
May 25, 1997Flash FloodPotter$3M
Jul 17, 1995HailGurley$600K
Jul 17, 1995HailDalton$600K
Jul 17, 1995HailGurley$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 Cheyenne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$76,422paid on 27 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $69,222 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 Cheyenne County

$139,700median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.8%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; 4,888 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
Logan County, COLow10
Morrill CountyVery Low15
Kimball CountyVery Low6
Sedgwick County, COVery Low7
Garden CountyVery Low11
Deuel CountyVery Low7
Banner CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Cheyenne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cheyenne County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cheyenne County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Cheyenne County had?

Cheyenne County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1997, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2024.

Is Cheyenne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 35th 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 Cheyenne County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne County had?

NOAA records list 69 tornadoes in Cheyenne County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1985. The weather service has also logged 488 hail reports and 53 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.