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Nemaha County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$5Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Nemaha County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $727 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $454,000 on 49 claims here.

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

Top risks in Nemaha County

$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Drought

Moderate
$703,029 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.7
$2M
TornadoLow49.1
$1M
DroughtModerate76.8
$703K
Heat waveLow52.6
$391K
Cold waveLow29.7
$371K
HailLow58.9
$335K
Strong windLow27.1
$239K
WildfireLow66.8
$124K
LightningVery Low16.9
$53K
Ice stormLow39.2
$46K
Winter weatherVery Low20.0
$16K
EarthquakeVery Low12.5
$12K
LandslideLow71.4
$6K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood7
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Oct 21, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornado, and Straight-LinMajor disaster
Show all 24
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 16, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2008Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jun 25, 1996Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 361 storm reports in Nemaha County since 1950, with 2 deaths and 9 injuries and about $6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 28, 1963.

22tornadoes
157hail reports, largest 3 inches
124damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 28, 1963F3–8 / 1
May 8, 1995F2–0 / 0
May 8, 1950F2–1 / 0
Apr 16, 1968F2–0 / 0
Apr 2, 1956F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 1996Flash FloodAuburn$3M
Aug 10, 2025Thunderstorm WindJohnson$1M
May 8, 1995Tornado–$450K
May 8, 1995Tornado1 W Auburn$350K
Jun 18, 1975Tornado–$250K
Jun 11, 2010FloodPeru$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 5, 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 Nemaha County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$453,662paid on 49 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $236,749 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 Nemaha County

$131,700median 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
4.1%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; 3,316 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
Otoe CountyVery Low21
Richardson CountyVery Low21
Atchison County, MOVery Low21
Johnson CountyVery Low20
Holt County, MOVery Low23
Pawnee CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Nemaha County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nemaha County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Nemaha County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Nemaha County had?

Nemaha County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Nemaha County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Nemaha County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Nemaha 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 Nemaha County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Nemaha County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 28, 1963. The weather service has also logged 157 hail reports and 55 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.