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Nance County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
47th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$9Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Nance County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,544 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 8 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 Nance County

Hail

High
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 50 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh94.7
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low14.1
$2M
DroughtModerate84.9
$1M
Strong windModerate59.3
$805K
TornadoLow34.9
$752K
Cold waveVery Low20.7
$268K
Ice stormLow56.3
$126K
LightningVery Low18.7
$72K
Winter weatherLow47.6
$66K
WildfireVery Low42.8
$35K
Heat waveVery Low12.2
$29K
EarthquakeVery Low4.5
$5K
LandslideVery Low10.5
$34

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 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 Nance County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood6
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Show all 16
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 31, 1966Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 240 storm reports in Nance County since 1959 and about $64.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 15, 1975.

22tornadoes
133hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 15, 1975F3–0 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F2–0 / 0
May 5, 1964F2–0 / 0
Jun 5, 1992F1–0 / 0
Oct 29, 2000F1Fullerton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 2019FloodGenoa$12M
Mar 13, 2019Flash FloodBelgrade$12M
Jun 21, 2024Flash FloodGenoa$7M
Aug 18, 2022HailGenoa$5M
Jun 7, 2024Thunderstorm WindBelgrade$3M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 19, 2025. 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 Nance County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
2.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$28,953paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $28,953 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 Nance County

$132,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1950median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
81%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.1%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; 1,606 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
Merrick CountyLow13
Howard CountyVery Low22
Boone CountyLow18
Greeley CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Nance County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nance County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Nance County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Nance County had?

Nance County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.

Is Nance County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 47th 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 Nance County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Nance 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 Nance County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Nance County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 15, 1975. The weather service has also logged 133 hail reports and 11 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.