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Pierce County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
56th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$8Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pierce County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $8.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,144 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $197,000 on 12 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pierce County

$3.6 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.3 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
Inland floodingVery Low20.5
$4M
TornadoLow41.6
$1M
HailModerate80.1
$1M
DroughtModerate72.2
$852K
Strong windLow33.4
$473K
Cold waveVery Low20.1
$318K
WildfireLow67.1
$200K
Ice stormLow52.4
$136K
Winter weatherLow53.6
$104K
LightningVery Low12.6
$62K
Heat waveVery Low15.9
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low8.3
$12K
LandslideVery Low21.2
$187

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 Pierce County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood6
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor 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
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 277 storm reports in Pierce County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1975.

28tornadoes
140hail reports, largest 3.25 inches
89damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 1975F4–0 / 0
May 21, 1962F3–0 / 0
May 6, 1975F3–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1973F2–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1953F2–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 21, 1962Tornado–$3M
Jul 1, 1996HailOsmond$1M
Aug 29, 1993TornadoPierce$500K
Apr 25, 1994Thunderstorm WindPlainview$500K
Mar 13, 2019Flash FloodPierce$475K
Jun 18, 1973Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 29, 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 Pierce County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (19 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$197,115paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $181,009 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 Pierce County

$196,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%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; 3,136 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
Madison CountyLow17
Wayne CountyVery Low16
Knox CountyVery Low16
Cedar CountyVery Low14
Antelope CountyVery Low11
Stanton CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Pierce County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pierce County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pierce County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Pierce County had?

Pierce County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in July 2022.

Is Pierce County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 56th 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 Pierce County?

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

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Pierce County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1975. The weather service has also logged 140 hail reports and 18 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.