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Richardson County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
58th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$6Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Richardson 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 58th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $738 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 16 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 85 claims here, including $846,000 for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Richardson County

$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$1.2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$812,068 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low16.7
$2M
TornadoLow48.8
$1M
DroughtModerate77.6
$812K
Heat waveLow53.3
$443K
Cold waveLow30.7
$442K
HailLow49.2
$257K
Strong windLow25.3
$243K
Ice stormModerate63.0
$154K
WildfireLow66.9
$139K
LightningVery Low17.9
$62K
Winter weatherVery Low19.2
$17K
EarthquakeVery Low13.2
$14K
LandslideVery Low51.7
$2K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood8
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 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 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Oct 21, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornado, and Straight-LinMajor 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
Show all 21
Dec 16, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2008Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 356 storm reports in Richardson County since 1953 and about $5.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 5, 2008 near Brener Fld Fall.

25tornadoes
134hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
128damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 2008EF2Brener Fld Fall0 / 0
Jul 1, 1965F1–0 / 0
May 16, 1960F1–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1960F1–0 / 0
Apr 5, 1999F1Verdon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 30, 2024Thunderstorm WindFalls City$2M
Jul 4, 1996HailSalem$800K
Jun 11, 2010FloodBarada$500K
Mar 13, 2019FloodShubert$425K
Jun 1, 2008FloodShubert$400K
Jul 1, 1965Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Richardson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.1 millionpaid on 85 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $845,688 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 Richardson County

$100,300median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1950median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
85%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.4%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; 4,073 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
Nemaha County, KSVery Low15
Brown County, KSVery Low17
Doniphan County, KSVery Low20
Nemaha CountyVery Low24
Holt County, MOVery Low23
Pawnee CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Richardson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Richardson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Richardson County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Richardson County had?

Richardson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.

Is Richardson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 58th 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 Richardson County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Richardson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 5, 2008 near Brener Fld Fall. The weather service has also logged 134 hail reports and 55 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.