Dawes County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Dawes County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $520 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (South Fork Fire). Only 12 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 Dawes County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 6.1 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 33.5 | $656K | ||
| Wildfire | 81.3 | $617K | ||
| Drought | 66.7 | $559K | ||
| Hail | 52.7 | $387K | ||
| Tornado | 21.6 | $354K | ||
| Lightning | 35.4 | $179K | ||
| Winter weather | 63.9 | $138K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.9 | $119K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.9 | $59K | ||
| Heat wave | 9.4 | $21K | ||
| Ice storm | 14.9 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 31.6 | $462 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Dawes 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 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 558 storm reports in Dawes County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 21 injuries and about $3.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1960.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 2, 2020 | EF2 | Marsland | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 2, 2020 | EF2 | Marsland | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 2004 | Hail | Chadron | $1M |
| Aug 2, 1996 | Lightning | Crawford | $400K |
| Jul 22, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Chadron | $300K |
| Jun 27, 1960 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 27, 1960 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 19, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Dawes 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 Dawes 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; 4,037 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 14 | |
| Box Butte County | 7 | |
| Fall River County, SD | 14 | |
| Sheridan County | 7 | |
| Sioux County | 12 |
Common questions about Dawes County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Dawes County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dawes County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $655,710.
How many federal disasters has Dawes County had?
Dawes County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was South Fork Fire in June 2026.
Is Dawes County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Dawes County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Dawes 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 Dawes County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Dawes County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1960. The weather service has also logged 303 hail reports and 8 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.