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Madison County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
11th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$27Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Madison County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $754 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (81 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 70 claims here, including $3.0 million for floods in 2010.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Madison County

$12 million 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Hail

Moderate
$2.6 million 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.8
$12M
TornadoModerate83.1
$6M
HailModerate92.3
$3M
Cold waveLow60.3
$2M
Strong windModerate81.4
$2M
DroughtModerate78.1
$1M
Ice stormHigh84.7
$716K
WildfireLow79.7
$493K
Winter weatherHigh87.8
$417K
LightningLow44.5
$235K
Heat waveVery Low33.4
$199K
EarthquakeVery Low26.3
$62K
LandslideVery Low9.6
$31

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 Madison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood6
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 6, 2021Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe 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
Jul 24, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Show all 17
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 28, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 528 storm reports in Madison County since 1953, with 8 deaths and 40 injuries and about $17.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 30, 1954.

46tornadoes
219hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
226damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 1954F4–23 / 6
May 21, 1962F3–6 / 0
Jun 13, 1967F2–1 / 0
Jun 4, 1991F2–0 / 0
Jun 25, 1969F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 30, 1954Tornado–$3M
May 21, 1962Tornado–$3M
Jun 16, 1990Tornado–$3M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$3M
Jul 16, 2001HailNewman Grove$3M
Jun 14, 2010FloodTilden$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Madison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (81 policies)
10.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 70 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $3 million paid

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 Madison County

$208,500median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.4%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; 15,510 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
Platte CountyLow21
Wayne CountyVery Low16
Pierce CountyVery Low15
Antelope CountyVery Low11
Stanton CountyVery Low17
Boone CountyLow18

Cities in Madison County

Common questions about Madison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Madison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Madison County, about $12 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Madison County had?

Madison County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in September 2021.

Is Madison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 11th 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 Madison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Madison 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 Madison County had?

NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Madison County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 30, 1954. The weather service has also logged 219 hail reports and 32 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.