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Keya Paha County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
80th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$1Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Keya Paha County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $1.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,363 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 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 Keya Paha County

$357,793 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.
$255,728 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$82,333 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 37 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow36.2
$358K
Inland floodingVery Low2.2
$256K
DroughtLow48.3
$82K
HailVery Low31.6
$82K
TornadoVery Low13.5
$73K
Strong windVery Low13.5
$70K
WildfireVery Low62.7
$65K
Winter weatherLow34.3
$23K
Heat waveVery Low9.0
$9K
LightningVery Low3.6
$8K
Ice stormVery Low10.2
$3K
EarthquakeVery Low3.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low12.4
$26

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 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 Keya Paha County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1977DroughtEmergency
Show all 11
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 253 storm reports in Keya Paha County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $4.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 22, 2010 near Norden.

11tornadoes
181hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
54damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 22, 2010EF2Norden0 / 0
Jun 8, 1963F2–0 / 0
Jun 5, 1956F2–0 / 0
May 5, 2007EF1Springview1 / 0
Jun 8, 1963F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 5, 2021Thunderstorm WindSpringview$3M
May 5, 2007Flash FloodSpringview$120K
May 22, 2010TornadoNorden$120K
Aug 3, 2007Thunderstorm WindSpringview$110K
Aug 22, 1997HailSpringview$103K
Jun 22, 1999Thunderstorm WindSpringview$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 Keya Paha 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 Keya Paha County

$108,800median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.4%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; 489 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
Holt CountyVery Low14
Todd County, SDVery Low11
Tripp County, SDVery Low18
Cherry CountyVery Low9
Gregory County, SDVery Low20
Brown CountyVery Low9
Boyd CountyVery Low16
Rock CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Keya Paha County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Keya Paha County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Keya Paha County, about $357,793 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $255,728.

How many federal disasters has Keya Paha County had?

Keya Paha County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Keya Paha County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Keya Paha 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 Keya Paha County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Keya Paha County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 22, 2010 near Norden. The weather service has also logged 181 hail reports and 7 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.