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Kimball County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
67th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$4Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Kimball County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 67th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and drought. FEMA estimates about $3.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,059 per resident. Since 1997 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 2 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 Kimball County

$929,840 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hail

Moderate
$845,797 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Drought

Moderate
$785,075 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 78 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low7.3
$930K
HailModerate80.9
$846K
DroughtModerate78.7
$785K
TornadoVery Low23.9
$302K
Cold waveVery Low21.6
$232K
Ice stormModerate70.9
$211K
Strong windVery Low15.0
$112K
LightningVery Low23.2
$73K
WildfireVery Low55.2
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low26.0
$45K
Winter weatherLow37.4
$37K
Heat waveVery Low3.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low5.4
$8

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 moderate 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 Kimball County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

May 24, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster

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 433 storm reports in Kimball County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $14.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 20, 1960.

66tornadoes
264hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
60damaging thunderstorm winds
34floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 20, 1960F3–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1954F2–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1977F2–0 / 0
Jun 20, 1960F1–0 / 0
May 14, 1962F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 25, 1997HailKimball$7M
May 7, 2000HailKimball$5M
May 24, 1997Flash FloodBushnell$2M
Jun 26, 2004Thunderstorm WindKimball$45K
Dec 8, 1997Winter WeatherCountywide$40K
May 24, 1997HailKimball$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 7, 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 Kimball County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 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 Kimball County

$109,400median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1952median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
90%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.5%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; 1,782 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
Weld County, COModerate14
Laramie County, WYLow3
Logan County, COLow10
Cheyenne CountyVery Low8
Banner CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Kimball County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kimball County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Kimball County, about $929,840 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $845,797.

How many federal disasters has Kimball County had?

Kimball County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1997, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2024.

Is Kimball County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 67th 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 Kimball County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Kimball 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 Kimball County had?

NOAA records list 66 tornadoes in Kimball County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 20, 1960. The weather service has also logged 264 hail reports and 34 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.