Pawnee County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Pawnee County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 75th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $963 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). 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 Pawnee 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.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 7.6 | $941K | ||
| Tornado | 28.2 | $405K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.9 | $326K | ||
| Hail | 50.2 | $234K | ||
| Drought | 53.4 | $166K | ||
| Strong wind | 15.6 | $117K | ||
| Heat wave | 27.2 | $102K | ||
| Cold wave | 8.6 | $53K | ||
| Ice storm | 35.2 | $38K | ||
| Lightning | 9.4 | $28K | ||
| Winter weather | 29.8 | $26K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.8 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 37.4 | $489 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Pawnee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 211 storm reports in Pawnee County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $673,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 3, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3, 1958 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 1968 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 13, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1984 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3, 1958 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 15, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Table Rock | $150K |
| Apr 25, 2008 | Flood | Mayberry | $100K |
| May 14, 1996 | Lightning | Table Rock | $40K |
| Jun 15, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Du Bois | $30K |
| Apr 16, 1968 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 Pawnee 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 Pawnee 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; 1,409 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gage County | 22 | |
| Nemaha County, KS | 15 | |
| Marshall County, KS | 17 | |
| Richardson County | 21 | |
| Nemaha County | 24 | |
| Johnson County | 20 |
Common questions about Pawnee County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Pawnee County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pawnee County, about $941,190 a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $405,272.
How many federal disasters has Pawnee County had?
Pawnee County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in February 2022.
Is Pawnee County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 75th 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 Pawnee 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 Pawnee County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Pawnee County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 3, 1958. The weather service has also logged 107 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.