Polk County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Polk County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,387 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 May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 16 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 Polk County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 95.5 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 16.4 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 73.0 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 81.3 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 36.8 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 46.4 | $298K | ||
| Cold wave | 16.0 | $237K | ||
| Ice storm | 52.6 | $139K | ||
| Heat wave | 23.0 | $117K | ||
| Winter weather | 43.6 | $75K | ||
| Wildfire | 38.4 | $34K | ||
| Earthquake | 8.2 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 3.6 | $6 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Polk 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 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 323 storm reports in Polk County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $130 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 5, 1964.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1964 | F5 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1993 | F3 | Blue Hill To | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2011 | EF3 | Durant | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2001 | F3 | Polk | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1962 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 1993 | Tornado | Blue Hill To | $50M |
| Apr 7, 1978 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 22, 2021 | Hail | Osceola | $5M |
| Jun 20, 2011 | Tornado | Durant | $5M |
| May 10, 2016 | Flash Flood | Polk | $3M |
| Oct 9, 2001 | Tornado | Polk | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 18, 2025. 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 Polk 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 Polk 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; 2,531 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Platte County | 21 | |
| Seward County | 17 | |
| York County | 18 | |
| Hamilton County | 21 | |
| Butler County | 17 | |
| Merrick County | 13 |
Common questions about Polk County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Polk County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Polk County, about $4.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Polk County had?
Polk 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 Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.
Is Polk County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 38th 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 Polk County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Polk 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 Polk County had?
NOAA records list 38 tornadoes in Polk County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 5, 1964. The weather service has also logged 140 hail reports and 19 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.