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Saunders County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
31st of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$16Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 34homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Saunders County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $705 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (27 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). About 1 in 34 homes here carry federal flood insurance (364 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 259 claims here, including $2.1 million 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 Saunders County

$6.2 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.
$2.9 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

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 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 floodingVery Low32.5
$6M
TornadoLow59.4
$3M
HailModerate89.2
$3M
Strong windModerate64.8
$1M
DroughtModerate77.1
$1M
WildfireLow72.2
$344K
Cold waveVery Low18.1
$317K
Ice stormModerate64.1
$265K
Winter weatherLow50.6
$108K
Heat waveVery Low20.5
$106K
LightningVery Low18.6
$105K
EarthquakeVery Low12.2
$20K
LandslideVery Low54.3
$3K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood7
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Oct 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Oct 21, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2021Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 28
Jun 17, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 21, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornado, and Straight-LinMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2008Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1971FloodsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 625 storm reports in Saunders County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 28 injuries and about $68.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 13, 1952.

46tornadoes
285hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
218damaging thunderstorm winds
70floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 13, 1952F4–20 / 0
May 7, 1988F2–0 / 0
May 20, 1959F2–0 / 0
May 6, 1964F2–0 / 0
May 22, 1966F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 2019FloodWann$52M
Jul 3, 1973Tornado–$3M
May 29, 1980Tornado–$3M
May 7, 1988Tornado–$3M
Jun 22, 2024FloodCedar Bluffs$1M
Aug 9, 2025Thunderstorm WindTouhy$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Saunders County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (364 policies)
29.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.3 millionpaid on 259 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $2.1 million 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 Saunders County

$271,700median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 10,276 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
Douglas CountyHigh27
Lancaster CountyModerate14
Sarpy CountyModerate23
Dodge CountyLow19
Cass CountyVery Low25
Butler CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Saunders County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Saunders County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Saunders County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Saunders County had?

Saunders County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 27 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2025.

Is Saunders County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 31st 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 Saunders County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 34 homes in Saunders 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 Saunders County had?

NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Saunders County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 13, 1952. The weather service has also logged 285 hail reports and 70 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.