Hitchcock County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hitchcock County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 68th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and drought. FEMA estimates about $3.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,294 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No 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 Hitchcock 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 5.7 | $756K | ||
| Strong wind | 63.1 | $727K | ||
| Drought | 77.0 | $707K | ||
| Hail | 71.3 | $541K | ||
| Tornado | 24.6 | $321K | ||
| Cold wave | 16.8 | $160K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.3 | $50K | ||
| Lightning | 13.1 | $42K | ||
| Ice storm | 35.1 | $38K | ||
| Heat wave | 11.8 | $22K | ||
| Wildfire | 31.4 | $14K | ||
| Earthquake | 4.6 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 12.1 | $36 |
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 moderate 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 Hitchcock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 567 storm reports in Hitchcock County since 1954, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $22.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 15, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 1990 | F4 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 18, 2025 | EF3 | Stratton | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1962 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 1975 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 1993 | Hail | Palisade To | $6M |
| Jun 8, 1994 | Hail | Trenton | $5M |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Palisade | $4M |
| Jun 15, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stratton | $1M |
| May 26, 2023 | Flood | Stratton | $790K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Hitchcock 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 Hitchcock 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; 1,561 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Red Willow County | 12 | |
| Rawlins County, KS | 9 | |
| Frontier County | 14 | |
| Dundy County | 10 | |
| Hayes County | 17 |
Common questions about Hitchcock County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hitchcock County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hitchcock County, about $756,451 a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $726,903.
How many federal disasters has Hitchcock County had?
Hitchcock County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2024.
Is Hitchcock County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 68th 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 Hitchcock County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Hitchcock County had?
NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Hitchcock County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 15, 1990. The weather service has also logged 371 hail reports and 20 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.