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Holt County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
54th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$7Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Holt County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $696 per resident. Since 2003 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 8 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 Holt County

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.5 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 46 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow64.9
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low10.8
$2M
DroughtModerate81.1
$1M
TornadoLow38.9
$871K
LightningModerate68.3
$496K
HailLow54.4
$338K
Strong windLow31.2
$324K
WildfireLow70.5
$191K
Ice stormModerate61.7
$156K
Winter weatherModerate71.6
$149K
Heat waveVery Low21.5
$76K
EarthquakeVery Low21.6
$35K
LandslideVery Low10.8
$34

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood2
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2022Severe 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 26, 2017Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 884 storm reports in Holt County since 1952, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $47.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 29, 1962.

80tornadoes
561hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
215damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 29, 1962F4–0 / 0
May 8, 1965F3–0 / 0
Jun 9, 2003F3Emmet0 / 0
Jun 19, 1996F2O Neill0 / 0
May 15, 1992F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 1965Tornado–$25M
Jun 9, 2003TornadoEmmet$7M
Aug 14, 1997HailO Neill$2M
Jun 19, 1996TornadoO Neill$1M
May 30, 2011Thunderstorm WindEmmet$1M
May 3, 1999TornadoEwing$750K

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 Holt County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4,899paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $4,899 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 Holt County

$165,100median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.8%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; 4,900 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
Knox CountyVery Low16
Antelope CountyVery Low11
Garfield CountyVery Low12
Boyd CountyVery Low16
Rock CountyVery Low12
Wheeler CountyVery Low12
Keya Paha CountyVery Low11
Loup CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Holt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Holt County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Holt County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Holt County had?

Holt County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2003, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.

Is Holt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 54th 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 Holt County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Holt 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 Holt County had?

NOAA records list 80 tornadoes in Holt County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 29, 1962. The weather service has also logged 561 hail reports and 23 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.