McPherson County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
McPherson 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 93rd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and drought. FEMA estimates about $526,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,318 per resident. Since 2001 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes 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 McPherson County
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 0.3 | $141K | ||
| Hail | 23.7 | $128K | ||
| Drought | 41.6 | $115K | ||
| Wildfire | 38.5 | $35K | ||
| Tornado | 5.3 | $33K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.6 | $31K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.1 | $24K | ||
| Lightning | 1.5 | $8K | ||
| Winter weather | 7.1 | $8K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.1 | $2K | ||
| Earthquake | 0.7 | $1K | ||
| Ice storm | 0.4 | $396 | ||
| Landslide | 6.6 | $19 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included McPherson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1974
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 263 storm reports in McPherson County since 1974 and about $694,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on June 17, 2018 near Tryon.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2018 | EF1 | Tryon | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 2024 | EF1 | Tryon | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 18, 2012 | EF0 | Ringgold | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2003 | F0 | Tryon | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 2001 | F0 | Tryon | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 2012 | Tornado | Ringgold | $100K |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Tryon | $90K |
| Jun 17, 2018 | Tornado | Tryon | $60K |
| Feb 18, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tryon | $50K |
| Jun 22, 1999 | Hail | Tryon | $50K |
| Jul 8, 2003 | Tornado | Tryon | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 McPherson 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 McPherson 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; 268 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 18 | |
| Keith County | 7 | |
| Logan County | 12 | |
| Hooker County | 4 | |
| Thomas County | 8 | |
| Arthur County | 10 |
Common questions about McPherson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in McPherson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McPherson County, about $141,431 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $127,632.
How many federal disasters has McPherson County had?
McPherson County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2001, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.
Is McPherson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 93rd 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 McPherson 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 McPherson County had?
NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in McPherson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on June 17, 2018 near Tryon. The weather service has also logged 209 hail reports and 1 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.