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Platte County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
5th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$32Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Platte County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $947 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (114 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 87 claims here, including $911,000 for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Platte County

$10.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$8.6 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

High
$6.2 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 floodingLow60.7
$10M
TornadoHigh90.9
$9M
HailHigh97.8
$6M
Strong windHigh92.5
$3M
Cold waveLow61.2
$2M
DroughtModerate86.0
$1M
Ice stormHigh83.8
$616K
Winter weatherHigh87.6
$377K
LightningLow49.3
$253K
Heat waveVery Low35.8
$208K
WildfireVery Low61.9
$107K
EarthquakeVery Low26.0
$54K
LandslideVery Low6.2
$12

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood8
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 20, 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 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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
Show all 21
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1971FloodsMajor 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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 526 storm reports in Platte County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 19 injuries and about $24.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 30, 1954.

36tornadoes
239hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
192damaging thunderstorm winds
51floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 1954F4–0 / 0
Jun 23, 1998F2Columbus17 / 0
May 24, 2012EF2St Bernard0 / 0
May 8, 1965F2–0 / 0
Dec 15, 2021EF2Columbus2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 1999HailColumbus$8M
Jul 16, 1996HailMonroe$5M
Jun 23, 1998TornadoColumbus$5M
May 30, 1954Tornado–$3M
Jul 16, 1996Flash FloodColumbus$2M
Mar 13, 2019FloodMonroe$440K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Platte County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (114 policies)
6.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 87 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $911,166 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 Platte County

$223,900median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
64%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; 14,325 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
Colfax CountyVery Low18
Butler CountyVery Low17
Merrick CountyLow13
Stanton CountyVery Low17
Boone CountyLow18
Polk CountyVery Low18
Nance CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Platte County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Platte County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Platte County, about $10.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Platte County had?

Platte County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is Platte County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 5th 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 Platte County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Platte 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 Platte County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Platte County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 30, 1954. The weather service has also logged 239 hail reports and 51 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.