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Hamilton County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
20th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$20Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Hamilton County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, strong wind and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,170 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $77,000 on 15 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Hamilton County

Hail

High
$7.6 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.
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh97.5
$8M
Strong windHigh95.6
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low16.9
$3M
TornadoLow50.7
$2M
DroughtModerate84.4
$2M
Cold waveVery Low17.7
$285K
Ice stormModerate65.5
$263K
LightningLow36.8
$218K
Winter weatherLow57.5
$128K
Heat waveVery Low22.3
$115K
WildfireVery Low28.4
$20K
EarthquakeVery Low11.5
$18K
LandslideVery Low4.6
$10

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Hamilton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2021Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 21
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
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 496 storm reports in Hamilton County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $222 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 20, 2011 near Hampton.

63tornadoes
236hail reports, largest 7 inches
148damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 20, 2011EF2Hampton0 / 0
Jun 14, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1992F2–0 / 0
Jun 17, 2009EF2Murphy0 / 0
May 26, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 7, 1978Tornado–$25M
Jul 9, 2021Thunderstorm WindAurora$20M
Jul 9, 2021Thunderstorm WindGiltner$20M
Jul 9, 2021Thunderstorm WindAurora$20M
Jun 3, 2014Thunderstorm WindMarquette$11M
Jun 3, 2014HailMarquette$11M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 Hamilton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (20 policies)
5.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$76,650paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
1982costliest year, with $26,494 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 Hamilton County

$253,700median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.6%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; 4,133 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
Hall CountyLow15
Adams CountyLow16
York CountyLow18
Merrick CountyLow13
Clay CountyLow17
Polk CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Hamilton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hamilton County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Hamilton County, about $7.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Hamilton County had?

Hamilton County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is Hamilton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 20th 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 Hamilton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County had?

NOAA records list 63 tornadoes in Hamilton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 20, 2011 near Hampton. The weather service has also logged 236 hail reports and 17 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.