Johnson County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Johnson County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $813 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 16 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 Johnson 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.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 9.0 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 28.6 | $675K | ||
| Wildfire | 77.5 | $469K | ||
| Hail | 49.7 | $379K | ||
| Cold wave | 15.3 | $230K | ||
| Strong wind | 16.3 | $204K | ||
| Heat wave | 29.5 | $193K | ||
| Drought | 45.9 | $158K | ||
| Ice storm | 41.3 | $82K | ||
| Lightning | 11.7 | $58K | ||
| Winter weather | 33.1 | $50K | ||
| Earthquake | 3.8 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 29.3 | $426 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Johnson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
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 239 storm reports in Johnson County since 1954 and about $7.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 15, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2012 | EF2 | Cook | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2006 | F1 | Sterling | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 30, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 23, 1996 | Flash Flood | Tecumseh | $2M |
| Apr 25, 2008 | Flood | Vesta | $1M |
| Jul 20, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Crab Orchard | $520K |
| Apr 15, 2006 | Tornado | Sterling | $500K |
| Aug 30, 1974 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Johnson 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 Johnson 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; 2,098 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | 14 | |
| Gage County | 22 | |
| Otoe County | 21 | |
| Nemaha County | 24 | |
| Pawnee County | 18 |
Common questions about Johnson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $675,430.
How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?
Johnson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.
Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd 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 Johnson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 15, 1982. The weather service has also logged 123 hail reports and 13 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.