Hayes County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hayes County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 83rd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $1.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,996 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 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 Hayes County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 65.6 | $536K | ||
| Inland flooding | 1.4 | $344K | ||
| Strong wind | 29.4 | $334K | ||
| Drought | 56.6 | $259K | ||
| Tornado | 13.2 | $128K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.8 | $43K | ||
| Ice storm | 17.4 | $15K | ||
| Wildfire | 26.4 | $13K | ||
| Winter weather | 13.7 | $13K | ||
| Lightning | 3.0 | $11K | ||
| Heat wave | 6.6 | $10K | ||
| Earthquake | 1.4 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 6.1 | $12 |
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 Hayes County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 351 storm reports in Hayes County since 1957 and about $15.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 18, 2025 near Hayes Center.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2025 | EF2 | Hayes Center | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 31, 2000 | F1 | Hamlet | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 28, 1960 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 15, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 2019 | EF1 | Hayes Center | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 1993 | Hail | Hayes | $6M |
| Aug 28, 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
| Aug 28, 1997 | Hail | Hayes Center | $2M |
| May 18, 2025 | Tornado | Hayes Center | $2M |
| Jun 4, 2008 | Hail | Hayes Center | $1M |
| May 28, 2007 | Flash Flood | Hayes Center | $320K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 8, 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 Hayes 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 Hayes 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; 487 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 18 | |
| Chase County | 10 | |
| Perkins County | 8 | |
| Hitchcock County | 7 | |
| Frontier County | 14 | |
| Dundy County | 10 |
Common questions about Hayes County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hayes County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Hayes County, about $536,331 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $343,908.
How many federal disasters has Hayes County had?
Hayes County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2024.
Is Hayes County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 83rd 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 Hayes County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Hayes 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 Hayes County had?
NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Hayes County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 18, 2025 near Hayes Center. The weather service has also logged 232 hail reports and 28 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.