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Gosper County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
65th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$6Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Gosper County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,253 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds and flooding). 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 Gosper County

Hail

Moderate
$2.6 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 53 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Strong wind

Moderate
$770,772 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailModerate92.0
$3M
DroughtModerate86.2
$2M
Strong windModerate52.5
$771K
Inland floodingVery Low2.1
$489K
TornadoVery Low20.4
$315K
Cold waveVery Low9.4
$88K
LightningVery Low13.8
$61K
Winter weatherLow40.0
$59K
Ice stormVery Low23.3
$27K
Heat waveVery Low10.2
$25K
WildfireVery Low22.0
$11K
EarthquakeVery Low3.1
$4K
LandslideVery Low10.4
$38

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 Gosper County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
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
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
May 9, 1994Severe Snow and Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 12
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 273 storm reports in Gosper County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $45.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 13, 1998 near Elwood.

18tornadoes
158hail reports, largest 4 inches
84damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 1998F1Elwood4 / 0
Apr 22, 1975F1–0 / 0
May 2, 1999F1Elwood0 / 0
Sep 4, 1985F1–0 / 0
May 22, 1972F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 30, 2018HailSmithfield$4M
Jun 23, 2013Thunderstorm WindElwood$3M
Aug 17, 2005Thunderstorm WindJohnson Res$3M
Sep 6, 2007HailElwood$2M
Jun 29, 2000HailElwood$2M
Jun 29, 2000Thunderstorm WindElwood$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 13, 2024. 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 Gosper County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
6.2%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 Gosper County

$228,500median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.9%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; 1,212 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
Dawson CountyLow13
Phelps CountyVery Low12
Furnas CountyLow14
Frontier CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Gosper County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gosper County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Gosper County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Gosper County had?

Gosper County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Gosper County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Gosper County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Gosper 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 Gosper County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Gosper County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 13, 1998 near Elwood. The weather service has also logged 158 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.