Platte County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 60.7 | $10M | ||
| Tornado | 90.9 | $9M | ||
| Hail | 97.8 | $6M | ||
| Strong wind | 92.5 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 61.2 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 86.0 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 83.8 | $616K | ||
| Winter weather | 87.6 | $377K | ||
| Lightning | 49.3 | $253K | ||
| Heat wave | 35.8 | $208K | ||
| Wildfire | 61.9 | $107K | ||
| Earthquake | 26.0 | $54K | ||
| Landslide | 6.2 | $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
Most recent
Show all 21
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1954 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 1998 | F2 | Columbus | 17 / 0 |
| May 24, 2012 | EF2 | St Bernard | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 15, 2021 | EF2 | Columbus | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1999 | Hail | Columbus | $8M |
| Jul 16, 1996 | Hail | Monroe | $5M |
| Jun 23, 1998 | Tornado | Columbus | $5M |
| May 30, 1954 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 16, 1996 | Flash Flood | Columbus | $2M |
| Mar 13, 2019 | Flood | Monroe | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 17 | |
| Colfax County | 18 | |
| Butler County | 17 | |
| Merrick County | 13 | |
| Stanton County | 17 | |
| Boone County | 18 | |
| Polk County | 18 | |
| Nance County | 16 |
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.