Red Willow County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Red Willow County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $769 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $60,000 on 15 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Red Willow 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 91.4 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 10.9 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 86.5 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 41.0 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 53.2 | $680K | ||
| Cold wave | 37.6 | $668K | ||
| Winter weather | 72.8 | $169K | ||
| Lightning | 33.7 | $141K | ||
| Ice storm | 55.7 | $123K | ||
| Heat wave | 26.2 | $119K | ||
| Earthquake | 12.8 | $15K | ||
| Wildfire | 24.0 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 14.9 | $69 |
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 Red Willow County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 599 storm reports in Red Willow County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $16.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 15, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 1990 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1996 | F2 | Indianola | 0 / 0 |
| May 17, 2019 | EF2 | Perry | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2008 | EF1 | Lebanon | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2011 | Hail | Mc Cook | $10M |
| Jun 15, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 10, 1996 | Tornado | Indianola | $750K |
| Jul 1, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mccook | $500K |
| May 23, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mc Cook | $500K |
| May 22, 2008 | Tornado | Lebanon | $350K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Red Willow 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 Red Willow 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; 5,150 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Furnas County | 14 | |
| Decatur County, KS | 10 | |
| Hitchcock County | 7 | |
| Rawlins County, KS | 9 | |
| Frontier County | 14 |
Common questions about Red Willow County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Red Willow County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Red Willow County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Red Willow County had?
Red Willow County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2024.
Is Red Willow County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th 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 Red Willow County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Red Willow 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 Red Willow County had?
NOAA records list 40 tornadoes in Red Willow County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 15, 1990. The weather service has also logged 295 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.