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Sheridan County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
63rd of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$5Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sheridan County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $934 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 6 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 Sheridan County

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$836,565 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 65 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate89.6
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low9.9
$1M
DroughtModerate80.7
$837K
Cold waveLow46.1
$695K
HailLow59.2
$316K
TornadoVery Low23.1
$265K
LightningLow49.9
$198K
Winter weatherModerate66.0
$96K
Strong windVery Low11.8
$76K
EarthquakeVery Low26.2
$43K
Heat waveVery Low7.7
$10K
Ice stormVery Low11.3
$5K
LandslideVery Low34.8
$383

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 moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm4
Hurricane1
Fire1
Flood1

Most recent

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
Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2012Region 23 Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency

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 834 storm reports in Sheridan County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries and about $12.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 5, 1993 near Hay Springs.

62tornadoes
562hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
198damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 5, 1993F3Hay Springs0 / 0
Jun 4, 1994F3To 14 Se0 / 0
Jun 25, 1978F2–8 / 0
Apr 8, 1957F2–0 / 0
May 20, 1962F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 5, 1993TornadoHay Springs$5M
Jun 25, 1978Tornado–$3M
Aug 29, 2012LightningHay Spgs$1M
Jun 21, 1997HailGordon$750K
Aug 3, 1996Flash FloodRushville$500K
Jun 21, 2013TornadoGordon$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 Sheridan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,192paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $1,192 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 Sheridan County

$113,400median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1951median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
87%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 2,704 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
Oglala Lakota County, SDLow14
Box Butte CountyVery Low7
Dawes CountyVery Low10
Cherry CountyVery Low9
Morrill CountyVery Low15
Garden CountyVery Low11
Grant CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Sheridan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sheridan County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Sheridan County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Sheridan County had?

Sheridan County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in September 2021.

Is Sheridan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd 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 Sheridan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Sheridan 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 Sheridan County had?

NOAA records list 62 tornadoes in Sheridan County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 5, 1993 near Hay Springs. The weather service has also logged 562 hail reports and 10 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.