Hooker County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 1.2 | $192K | ||
| Cold wave | 13.0 | $92K | ||
| Hail | 27.6 | $81K | ||
| Tornado | 11.6 | $65K | ||
| Drought | 38.6 | $45K | ||
| Wildfire | 40.5 | $20K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.4 | $15K | ||
| Winter weather | 21.8 | $15K | ||
| Lightning | 5.0 | $12K | ||
| Earthquake | 4.9 | $4K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.9 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 4.0 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 27.1 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2024 | EF2 | Mullen | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1971 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 2009 | EF0 | Mullen | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2000 | Hail | Mullen | $950K |
| Jul 22, 1997 | Flash Flood | Mullen | $500K |
| Jul 23, 2009 | Hail | Mullen | $100K |
| Jul 13, 2007 | Hail | Mullen | $75K |
| Jun 4, 1999 | Hail | Mullen | $60K |
| Jun 4, 1999 | Hail | Mullen | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry County | 9 | |
| Thomas County | 8 | |
| Grant County | 5 | |
| Arthur County | 10 | |
| McPherson County | 8 |
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.