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McPherson County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
93rd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$526Kexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$141,431 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 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

Very Low
$127,632 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.
$114,576 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 57 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low0.3
$141K
HailVery Low23.7
$128K
DroughtLow41.6
$115K
WildfireVery Low38.5
$35K
TornadoVery Low5.3
$33K
Strong windVery Low3.6
$31K
Cold waveVery Low5.1
$24K
LightningVery Low1.5
$8K
Winter weatherVery Low7.1
$8K
Heat waveVery Low3.1
$2K
EarthquakeVery Low0.7
$1K
Ice stormVery Low0.4
$396
LandslideVery Low6.6
$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

Severe Storm7
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster

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.

14tornadoes
209hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
37damaging thunderstorm winds
1floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 17, 2018EF1Tryon0 / 0
Jun 25, 2024EF1Tryon0 / 0
Mar 18, 2012EF0Ringgold0 / 0
Jul 8, 2003F0Tryon0 / 0
Jun 9, 2001F0Tryon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 18, 2012TornadoRinggold$100K
Jun 12, 2010FloodTryon$90K
Jun 17, 2018TornadoTryon$60K
Feb 18, 1994Thunderstorm WindTryon$50K
Jun 22, 1999HailTryon$50K
Jul 8, 2003TornadoTryon$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 ›
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 McPherson County

$121,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1955median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
86%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; 268 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
Lincoln CountyLow18
Keith CountyVery Low7
Logan CountyVery Low12
Hooker CountyVery Low4
Thomas CountyVery Low8
Arthur CountyVery Low10

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.