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Morrill County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
34th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$8Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Morrill County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $8.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,759 per resident. Since 2001 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (wildfires). 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 Morrill County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 83 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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

Moderate
$1.2 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
DroughtHigh97.1
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low16.3
$2M
HailModerate86.9
$1M
Cold waveLow44.8
$682K
TornadoVery Low25.2
$322K
LightningModerate60.6
$298K
Strong windLow17.5
$132K
WildfireLow63.9
$98K
Ice stormLow51.1
$78K
Winter weatherLow47.4
$51K
EarthquakeVery Low21.0
$27K
Heat waveVery Low4.9
$5K
LandslideVery Low12.6
$37

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Morrill County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood2
Fire2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2026Morrill-Cottonwood FireFire management
May 24, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 474 storm reports in Morrill County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $11 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 27, 1955.

50tornadoes
295hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 27, 1955F4–0 / 0
Jul 6, 1994F2To 9 Ne1 / 0
Jun 12, 2017EF2Bayard0 / 0
Jun 1, 1958F2–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1965F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 6, 1994TornadoTo 9 Ne$5M
Jun 12, 2017TornadoBayard$3M
Jun 2, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$750K
Apr 23, 2008HailBridgeport$750K
Jun 27, 1999HailBridgeport$500K
Jul 3, 2010Thunderstorm WindBridgeport$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 Morrill 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 Morrill County

$116,100median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
87%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 2,271 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
Scotts Bluff CountyLow8
Box Butte CountyVery Low7
Cheyenne CountyVery Low8
Sheridan CountyVery Low7
Garden CountyVery Low11
Banner CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Morrill County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morrill County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Morrill County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Morrill County had?

Morrill County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2001, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in June 2026.

Is Morrill County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 34th 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 Morrill County?

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

NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Morrill County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 27, 1955. The weather service has also logged 295 hail reports and 26 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.