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Furnas County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$14Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Furnas County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, strong wind and drought. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,915 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2022 (Road 702 Fire). Only 3 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 Furnas County

Hail

High
$5.8 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.
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 70 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh98.3
$6M
Strong windHigh95.7
$3M
DroughtHigh95.2
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low18.8
$2M
TornadoLow37.2
$602K
Cold waveVery Low22.2
$210K
Ice stormLow55.3
$86K
Winter weatherModerate64.9
$85K
Heat waveVery Low23.1
$64K
LightningVery Low21.2
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low11.2
$9K
WildfireVery Low19.9
$6K
LandslideVery Low14.6
$47

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 high 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 Furnas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood3
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Apr 23, 2022Road 702 FireFire management
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2017Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Show all 14
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
May 9, 1994Severe Snow and Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & 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 564 storm reports in Furnas County since 1952, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $124 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 29, 1956.

30tornadoes
321hail reports, largest 3 inches
180damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 29, 1956F3–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1969F2–0 / 1
Jun 25, 1956F2–0 / 0
Jul 21, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jun 30, 1958F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2023HailWilsonville$6M
Jun 29, 2023HailBeaver City$6M
Jun 29, 2023HailWilsonville$6M
Jun 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindWilsonville$6M
Jun 14, 2014Thunderstorm WindCambridge$4M
Jun 30, 2018HailArapahoe$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 23, 2025. 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 Furnas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
2.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4,118paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $4,118 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 Furnas County

$98,400median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1949median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
84%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.9%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; 2,516 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
Red Willow CountyVery Low12
Phelps CountyVery Low12
Norton County, KSVery Low11
Harlan CountyVery Low12
Decatur County, KSVery Low10
Frontier CountyVery Low14
Gosper CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Furnas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Furnas County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Furnas County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $2.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Furnas County had?

Furnas County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Road 702 Fire in April 2022.

Is Furnas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Furnas County?

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

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Furnas County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 29, 1956. The weather service has also logged 321 hail reports and 13 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.