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Garfield County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
82nd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$1Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Garfield County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 82nd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $1.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $797 per resident. Since 1994 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe storms and straight-line winds). No 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 Garfield County

$608,662 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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

Very Low
$191,260 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.

Hail

Low
$161,980 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 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 Low4.2
$609K
TornadoVery Low17.8
$191K
HailLow38.2
$162K
Strong windLow17.4
$146K
Cold waveVery Low11.5
$94K
DroughtLow41.4
$73K
LightningVery Low17.0
$56K
WildfireVery Low50.0
$46K
Winter weatherLow34.2
$35K
Ice stormVery Low22.5
$20K
Heat waveVery Low6.9
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low5.0
$5K
LandslideVery Low14.2
$54

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 moderate 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 Garfield County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2017Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 12
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 9, 1994Severe Snow and Ice StormMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 296 storm reports in Garfield County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $3.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 4, 1981.

15tornadoes
196hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
73damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 4, 1981F2–0 / 0
Jun 16, 2014EF2Burwell0 / 0
Jun 16, 2014EF2Burwell0 / 0
Jun 16, 2014EF2Burwell0 / 0
Jun 21, 1986F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 19, 2025Thunderstorm WindBurwell$1M
Aug 21, 1997HailBurwell$252K
Aug 4, 1981Tornado–$250K
Jun 21, 1986Tornado–$250K
Jun 12, 2010FloodBurwell$140K
Jun 16, 2014TornadoBurwell$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 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 Garfield County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Garfield County

$176,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.1%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; 990 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
Custer CountyVery Low18
Holt CountyVery Low14
Valley CountyVery Low16
Wheeler CountyVery Low12
Loup CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Garfield County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Garfield County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Garfield County, about $608,662 a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $191,260.

How many federal disasters has Garfield County had?

Garfield County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1994, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in July 2022.

Is Garfield County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 82nd 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 Garfield County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Garfield County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Garfield County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 4, 1981. The weather service has also logged 196 hail reports and 9 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.