Kearney County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Kearney County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,125 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 34 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 Kearney County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 97.1 | $6M | ||
| Drought | 89.8 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 83.0 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 10.3 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 35.8 | $989K | ||
| Lightning | 52.1 | $354K | ||
| Ice storm | 56.7 | $161K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.5 | $139K | ||
| Heat wave | 21.6 | $100K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.8 | $52K | ||
| Earthquake | 11.2 | $16K | ||
| Wildfire | 21.7 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 2.5 | $4 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Kearney County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 375 storm reports in Kearney County since 1955 and about $114 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 13, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1990 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 2024 | EF1 | Minden | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2002 | Hail | Minden | $23M |
| Jun 6, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newark | $18M |
| Jul 9, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norman | $8M |
| Jul 9, 2014 | Hail | Heartwell | $7M |
| Jun 12, 2002 | Hail | Minden | $7M |
| Jul 10, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Axtell | $5M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 29, 2025. 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 Kearney 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 Kearney 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; 2,988 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | 17 | |
| Adams County | 16 | |
| Phelps County | 12 | |
| Webster County | 14 | |
| Harlan County | 12 | |
| Franklin County | 8 |
Common questions about Kearney County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Kearney County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Kearney County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Kearney County had?
Kearney County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in February 2022.
Is Kearney County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 29th 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 Kearney County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Kearney 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 Kearney County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Kearney County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 13, 1990. The weather service has also logged 178 hail reports and 11 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.