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Colfax County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
32nd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$13Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 26homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Colfax County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,192 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). About 1 in 26 homes here carry federal flood insurance (245 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 171 claims here.

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

Top risks in Colfax County

$4.9 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.

Hail

Moderate
$2.5 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.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low31.8
$5M
HailModerate91.0
$3M
TornadoLow56.0
$2M
Strong windModerate61.7
$1M
Cold waveLow39.0
$852K
DroughtModerate71.0
$750K
Ice stormLow49.6
$112K
WildfireVery Low57.1
$95K
Heat waveVery Low21.0
$92K
Winter weatherLow45.5
$75K
LightningVery Low12.5
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low11.9
$16K
LandslideVery Low24.1
$234

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 Colfax County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm6
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor 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
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
May 28, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 31, 1966Heavy Rains & 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 261 storm reports in Colfax County since 1952 and about $32 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1990.

33tornadoes
129hail reports, largest 3 inches
76damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 13, 1990F4–0 / 0
May 4, 1977F3–0 / 0
Aug 13, 1952F3–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1963F2–0 / 0
May 20, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$25M
Jul 20, 2008HailSchuyler$3M
Jun 11, 2010FloodLeigh$2M
May 30, 2008FloodSchuyler$1M
Apr 8, 1999TornadoSchuyler$540K
May 4, 1977Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 17, 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 Colfax County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (245 policies)
20.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 171 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $553,646 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 Colfax County

$144,700median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.9%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; 3,997 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
Dodge CountyLow19
Platte CountyLow21
Cuming CountyLow22
Butler CountyVery Low17
Stanton CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Colfax County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Colfax County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Colfax County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Colfax County had?

Colfax County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is Colfax County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 32nd 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 Colfax County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 26 homes in Colfax 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 Colfax County had?

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Colfax County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1990. The weather service has also logged 129 hail reports and 22 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.