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Loup County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
89th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$781Kexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Loup 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 89th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $781,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,316 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 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 Loup County

$268,591 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.

Hail

Low
$233,639 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.

Tornado

Very Low
$90,096 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low0.7
$269K
HailLow37.9
$234K
TornadoVery Low10.0
$90K
Strong windVery Low6.2
$60K
DroughtLow33.0
$48K
Cold waveVery Low4.9
$21K
WildfireVery Low30.1
$20K
Winter weatherVery Low11.9
$13K
LightningVery Low1.9
$9K
Ice stormVery Low10.9
$8K
Heat waveVery Low4.9
$8K
EarthquakeVery Low1.1
$2K
LandslideVery Low11.0
$46

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 Loup County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood2
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2017Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 12
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency

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 234 storm reports in Loup County since 1956 and about $4.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on August 19, 2017 near Almeria.

21tornadoes
170hail reports, largest 6 inches
39damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 19, 2017EF2Almeria0 / 0
Jul 7, 1979F1–0 / 0
Oct 31, 2000F1Taylor0 / 0
Jun 25, 1980F1–0 / 0
Aug 19, 2017EF1Almeria0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 7, 1979Tornado–$3M
Jun 12, 2010FloodAlmeria$550K
Oct 31, 2000TornadoTaylor$500K
Jun 25, 1980Tornado–$250K
May 23, 1998HailTaylor$100K
Jul 22, 2000HailTaylor$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 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 Loup 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 Loup County

$182,300median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.7%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; 435 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
Custer CountyVery Low18
Holt CountyVery Low14
Brown CountyVery Low9
Garfield CountyVery Low12
Rock CountyVery Low12
Blaine CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Loup County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Loup County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Loup County, about $268,591 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $233,639.

How many federal disasters has Loup County had?

Loup County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Loup County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 89th 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 Loup 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 Loup County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Loup County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on August 19, 2017 near Almeria. The weather service has also logged 170 hail reports and 3 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.