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Dodge County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
6th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$34Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 24homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Dodge County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $910 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). About 1 in 24 homes here carry federal flood insurance (708 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $12 million on 809 claims here, including $9.0 million for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Dodge County

$15 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow67.3
$15M
TornadoModerate84.2
$6M
Cold waveModerate81.4
$5M
HailModerate92.4
$3M
Strong windHigh84.2
$2M
DroughtModerate78.6
$1M
Heat waveLow54.8
$594K
Ice stormModerate72.6
$323K
WildfireLow70.3
$226K
LightningLow37.4
$186K
Winter weatherModerate66.9
$148K
EarthquakeVery Low24.3
$53K
LandslideVery Low29.5
$381

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Dodge County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood7
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 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2008Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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

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 616 storm reports in Dodge County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 18 injuries and about $38.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 7, 1962.

31tornadoes
279hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
230damaging thunderstorm winds
70floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 7, 1962F2–5 / 0
May 20, 1982F2–0 / 0
May 12, 2023EF2Scribner Arpt0 / 0
May 12, 2023EF2Ames0 / 0
May 29, 1980F1–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 20, 1996HailHooper$22M
Jun 20, 1996HailWinslow$10M
May 29, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jun 23, 1998TornadoSnyder$500K
Feb 25, 2021FloodFremont Arpt$500K
Mar 1, 2021FloodFremont Arpt$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Dodge County

Check your address flood zone ›
4.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (708 policies)
18.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11.8 millionpaid on 809 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $9 million 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 Dodge County

$208,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.9%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; 16,725 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
Douglas CountyHigh27
Saunders CountyVery Low28
Washington CountyVery Low22
Colfax CountyVery Low18
Cuming CountyLow22
Butler CountyVery Low17
Burt CountyVery Low18

Cities in Dodge County

Common questions about Dodge County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dodge County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dodge County, about $15 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Dodge County had?

Dodge County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is Dodge County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 6th 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 Dodge County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 24 homes in Dodge 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 Dodge County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Dodge County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 7, 1962. The weather service has also logged 279 hail reports and 70 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.