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Hooker County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
87th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$546Kexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hooker County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than almost every US county. It ranks 87th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $546,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $768 per resident. Since 2001 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds 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 Hooker County

$192,380 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 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.

Cold wave

Very Low
$92,169 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

Very Low
$81,462 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low1.2
$192K
Cold waveVery Low13.0
$92K
HailVery Low27.6
$81K
TornadoVery Low11.6
$65K
DroughtLow38.6
$45K
WildfireVery Low40.5
$20K
Strong windVery Low3.4
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low21.8
$15K
LightningVery Low5.0
$12K
EarthquakeVery Low4.9
$4K
Heat waveVery Low3.9
$3K
Ice stormVery Low4.0
$1K
LandslideVery Low27.1
$176

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 high 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 Hooker County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm2
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1966

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 300 storm reports in Hooker County since 1966 and about $2.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 25, 2024 near Mullen.

15tornadoes
202hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
80damaging thunderstorm winds
1floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 25, 2024EF2Mullen0 / 0
Apr 19, 1974F1–0 / 0
Apr 19, 1971F1–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1986F1–0 / 0
May 12, 2009EF0Mullen0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2000HailMullen$950K
Jul 22, 1997Flash FloodMullen$500K
Jul 23, 2009HailMullen$100K
Jul 13, 2007HailMullen$75K
Jun 4, 1999HailMullen$60K
Jun 4, 1999HailMullen$56K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Hooker County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Hooker County

$93,800median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1955median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
79%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.1%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; 428 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
Cherry CountyVery Low9
Thomas CountyVery Low8
Grant CountyVery Low5
Arthur CountyVery Low10
McPherson CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Hooker County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hooker County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hooker County, about $192,380 a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $92,169.

How many federal disasters has Hooker County had?

Hooker County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2001, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Hooker County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 87th 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 Hooker 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 Hooker County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Hooker County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 25, 2024 near Mullen. The weather service has also logged 202 hail reports and 1 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.