Hamilton County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 97.5 | $8M | ||
| Strong wind | 95.6 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 16.9 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 50.7 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 84.4 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 17.7 | $285K | ||
| Ice storm | 65.5 | $263K | ||
| Lightning | 36.8 | $218K | ||
| Winter weather | 57.5 | $128K | ||
| Heat wave | 22.3 | $115K | ||
| Wildfire | 28.4 | $20K | ||
| Earthquake | 11.5 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 4.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 21
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2011 | EF2 | Hampton | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1992 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 2009 | EF2 | Murphy | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 1978 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Aurora | $20M |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Giltner | $20M |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Aurora | $20M |
| Jun 3, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marquette | $11M |
| Jun 3, 2014 | Hail | Marquette | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hall County | 15 | |
| Adams County | 16 | |
| York County | 18 | |
| Merrick County | 13 | |
| Clay County | 17 | |
| Polk County | 18 |
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.