Hall County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hall County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $38 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $613 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (51 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $808,000 on 126 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Hall 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.
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 70.1 | $15M | ||
| Tornado | 89.9 | $8M | ||
| Hail | 98.0 | $7M | ||
| Strong wind | 91.3 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 91.8 | $2M | ||
| Winter weather | 95.6 | $902K | ||
| Ice storm | 86.6 | $793K | ||
| Cold wave | 31.3 | $525K | ||
| Lightning | 64.9 | $480K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.9 | $99K | ||
| Wildfire | 50.6 | $58K | ||
| Heat wave | 17.1 | $53K | ||
| Landslide | 6.4 | $14 |
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 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 Hall County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
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 701 storm reports in Hall County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 208 injuries and about $474 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 3, 1980.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 1980 | F4 | – | 110 / 3 |
| May 8, 1965 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1980 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1980 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1980 | F3 | – | 40 / 1 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Jun 3, 1980 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 8, 1965 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 11, 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $15M |
| Jun 13, 2017 | Hail | Grand Is | $10M |
| Jun 5, 2009 | Hail | Wood River | $8M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 Hall 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 Hall 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; 25,569 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | 17 | |
| Adams County | 16 | |
| Hamilton County | 21 | |
| Merrick County | 13 | |
| Howard County | 22 |
Cities in Hall County
Common questions about Hall County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hall County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hall County, about $15.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Hall County had?
Hall County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in September 2021.
Is Hall County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 4th 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 Hall County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Hall 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 Hall County had?
NOAA records list 80 tornadoes in Hall County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 3, 1980. The weather service has also logged 319 hail reports and 30 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.