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Perkins County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
73rd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$4Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Perkins 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 73rd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $4.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,414 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 July 2010 (severe storms and flooding). Only 3 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 Perkins County

Hail

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Drought

Moderate
$829,297 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 92 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$568,033 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailModerate82.5
$1M
DroughtModerate72.2
$829K
Inland floodingVery Low2.3
$568K
Strong windLow29.3
$400K
Cold waveVery Low23.0
$391K
TornadoVery Low19.7
$314K
LightningVery Low13.6
$66K
Winter weatherVery Low18.6
$22K
Heat waveVery Low8.5
$18K
EarthquakeVery Low8.7
$12K
WildfireVery Low17.2
$9K
Ice stormVery Low6.9
$5K
LandslideVery Low1.0
$1

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor 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 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 500 storm reports in Perkins County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $37.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1991.

39tornadoes
332hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
117damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1991F3–0 / 0
Mar 28, 2007EF2Grant0 / 0
May 21, 1995F2To0 / 0
Jun 24, 1969F2–0 / 0
Jul 2, 1999F1Grant1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 25, 1997HailGrant$14M
Jun 5, 1996HailPaxton$3M
May 2, 1991Tornado–$3M
Jun 24, 2026Thunderstorm WindMadrid$3M
Jul 2, 1999TornadoGrant$2M
Jul 15, 1996Thunderstorm WindMadrid$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 24, 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 Perkins County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 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 Perkins County

$157,200median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1951median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
83%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.3%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; 1,359 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
Phillips County, COVery Low4
Chase CountyVery Low10
Sedgwick County, COVery Low7
Deuel CountyVery Low7
Hayes CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Perkins County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Perkins County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Perkins County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $829,297.

How many federal disasters has Perkins County had?

Perkins 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 and Flooding in July 2010.

Is Perkins County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Perkins County?

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

NOAA records list 39 tornadoes in Perkins County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1991. The weather service has also logged 332 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.