Sioux County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Sioux County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $1.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,709 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (South Fork Fire). No 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 Sioux County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 70.5 | $670K | ||
| Inland flooding | 1.7 | $423K | ||
| Cold wave | 20.2 | $282K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.8 | $216K | ||
| Hail | 32.0 | $163K | ||
| Tornado | 11.5 | $107K | ||
| Winter weather | 21.7 | $24K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.1 | $20K | ||
| Lightning | 3.9 | $17K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.4 | $11K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.5 | $3K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.2 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 21.6 | $171 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Sioux 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 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 330 storm reports in Sioux County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $825,620 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 20, 1983.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 2017 | EF2 | Agate | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 28, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 1994 | F1 | Mitchell | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 14, 1969 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 20, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 23, 2008 | Hail | Montrose | $100K |
| Jul 6, 1994 | Tornado | Mitchell | $50K |
| Jul 6, 1994 | Hail | – | $50K |
| Jul 14, 1969 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Sioux 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 Sioux 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; 687 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scotts Bluff County | 8 | |
| Goshen County, WY | 3 | |
| Box Butte County | 7 | |
| Dawes County | 10 | |
| Fall River County, SD | 14 | |
| Niobrara County, WY | 3 |
Common questions about Sioux County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Sioux County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Sioux County, about $670,409 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $423,343.
How many federal disasters has Sioux County had?
Sioux County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was South Fork Fire in June 2026.
Is Sioux County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Sioux County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Sioux County had?
NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Sioux County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 20, 1983. The weather service has also logged 243 hail reports and 6 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.