Grant County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Grant County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than almost every US county. It ranks 91st of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $647,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,061 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (wildfires). 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 Grant County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 0.6 | $250K | ||
| Wildfire | 62.0 | $129K | ||
| Cold wave | 7.9 | $68K | ||
| Hail | 13.5 | $58K | ||
| Drought | 32.9 | $45K | ||
| Tornado | 6.4 | $39K | ||
| Lightning | 6.7 | $29K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.1 | $13K | ||
| Winter weather | 10.2 | $10K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.4 | $3K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.8 | $1K | ||
| Ice storm | 2.5 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 23.0 | $212 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Grant County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
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 256 storm reports in Grant County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $667,530 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 25, 2024 near Whitman.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2024 | EF3 | Whitman | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 1954 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2007 | EF1 | Ashby | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1996 | F0 | Hyannis | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 1954 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 29, 2000 | Hail | Hyannis | $100K |
| Jul 8, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hyannis | $38K |
| Aug 26, 2002 | Flash Flood | Hyannis | $30K |
| Jun 4, 1999 | Hail | Hyannis | $29K |
| May 18, 1977 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Grant County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Grant County
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; 407 housing units.
Compare in Nebraska
All 93 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Lancaster County | Tornado | |
| Sarpy County | Tornado | |
| Hall County | Inland flooding | |
| Buffalo County | Hail | |
| Dodge County | Inland flooding | |
| Scotts Bluff County | Hail | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry County | 9 | |
| Sheridan County | 7 | |
| Garden County | 11 | |
| Hooker County | 4 | |
| Arthur County | 10 |
Common questions about Grant County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Grant County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grant County, about $249,731 a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $128,800.
How many federal disasters has Grant County had?
Grant County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in June 2026.
Is Grant County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 91st 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 Grant 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 Grant County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Grant County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 25, 2024 near Whitman. The weather service has also logged 192 hail reports and 2 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.