Home › Nebraska › Sherman County

Sherman County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
45th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$8Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Sherman County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $8.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,759 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 4 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 Sherman County

Hail

High
$3.5 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 34 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh95.8
$4M
DroughtModerate88.7
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low9.4
$1M
Strong windModerate65.3
$878K
TornadoVery Low25.0
$379K
WildfireLow67.5
$149K
Cold waveVery Low10.8
$89K
Winter weatherLow57.5
$87K
Ice stormLow41.9
$60K
Heat waveVery Low15.5
$40K
LightningVery Low9.1
$31K
EarthquakeVery Low6.5
$7K
LandslideVery Low21.1
$134

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood6
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Tornado1

Most recent

May 3, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2018Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Show all 17
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 1994Severe Snow and Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 31, 1966Heavy Rains & 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 328 storm reports in Sherman County since 1953, with 1 death and 14 injuries and about $104 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1953.

29tornadoes
190hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
86damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 7, 1953F4–0 / 0
Jul 8, 1955F2–13 / 1
Jun 7, 1953F2–0 / 0
Jun 20, 2011EF2Rockville0 / 0
Apr 20, 1974F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 2022Thunderstorm WindLitchfield$10M
Jun 7, 2022HailLitchfield$10M
Jul 9, 2014HailLoup City$8M
Jun 7, 2022HailHazard$6M
Jul 24, 2013HailAshton$5M
Jun 20, 2014HailRockville$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 29, 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 Sherman County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Sherman County

$152,000median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.3%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; 1,796 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
Buffalo CountyLow17
Custer CountyVery Low18
Howard CountyVery Low22
Valley CountyVery Low16
Greeley CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Sherman County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sherman County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Sherman County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Sherman County had?

Sherman County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in May 2024.

Is Sherman County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 45th 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 Sherman County?

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

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Sherman County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1953. The weather service has also logged 190 hail reports and 14 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.