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Hall County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
4th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$38Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$15.4 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
$8.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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

High
$7.1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow70.1
$15M
TornadoModerate89.9
$8M
HailHigh98.0
$7M
Strong windHigh91.3
$3M
DroughtHigh91.8
$2M
Winter weatherHigh95.6
$902K
Ice stormHigh86.6
$793K
Cold waveLow31.3
$525K
LightningModerate64.9
$480K
EarthquakeVery Low30.9
$99K
WildfireVery Low50.6
$58K
Heat waveVery Low17.1
$53K
LandslideVery Low6.4
$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

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 6, 2021Severe 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 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jun 23, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1980Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor 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 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.

80tornadoes
319hail reports, largest 5 inches
252damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 3, 1980F4–110 / 3
May 8, 1965F4–0 / 0
Jun 3, 1980F4–0 / 0
Jun 3, 1980F4–0 / 0
Jun 3, 1980F3–40 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 3, 1980Tornado–$250M
Jun 3, 1980Tornado–$25M
May 8, 1965Tornado–$25M
May 11, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$15M
Jun 13, 2017HailGrand Is$10M
Jun 5, 2009HailWood 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (51 policies)
3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$808,013paid on 126 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $252,824 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 Hall County

$224,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.8%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; 25,569 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
Buffalo CountyLow17
Adams CountyLow16
Hamilton CountyVery Low21
Merrick CountyLow13
Howard CountyVery Low22

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.