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Gage County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
22nd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$15Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gage County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $695 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (56 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 184 claims here, including $1.0 million for floods in 1984.

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

Top risks in Gage County

$4.5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 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 Low32.4
$4M
TornadoModerate78.4
$4M
HailModerate88.9
$2M
Strong windModerate79.2
$2M
LightningModerate72.7
$650K
WildfireLow78.9
$438K
Ice stormModerate78.5
$432K
DroughtLow63.5
$424K
Heat waveLow48.6
$418K
Winter weatherModerate77.8
$221K
Cold waveVery Low16.4
$203K
EarthquakeVery Low19.1
$31K
LandslideVery Low33.7
$491

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 Gage County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 16, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Jan 11, 2008Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 25, 1996Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 623 storm reports in Gage County since 1953, with 1 death and 31 injuries and about $53.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 22, 2004 near Clatonia.

55tornadoes
283hail reports, largest 5 inches
224damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 22, 2004F4Clatonia0 / 0
Sep 25, 1973F3–8 / 0
Apr 26, 1991F3–0 / 0
May 8, 1996F2Beatrice15 / 0
Apr 15, 2006F2Wymore0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 22, 2004TornadoClatonia$20M
May 8, 1996TornadoBeatrice$12M
Jul 1, 1994TornadoLiberty$5M
Apr 15, 2006TornadoWymore$5M
Sep 25, 1973Tornado–$3M
Jul 6, 1978Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 Gage County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (56 policies)
10.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 184 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $1 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 Gage County

$174,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1%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; 10,399 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
Lancaster CountyModerate14
Otoe CountyVery Low21
Saline CountyVery Low19
Marshall County, KSVery Low17
Jefferson CountyVery Low23
Washington County, KSVery Low19
Johnson CountyVery Low20
Pawnee CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Gage County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gage County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gage County, about $4.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Gage County had?

Gage County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Gage County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 22nd 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 Gage County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Gage 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 Gage County had?

NOAA records list 55 tornadoes in Gage County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 22, 2004 near Clatonia. The weather service has also logged 283 hail reports and 42 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.