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Thayer County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
24th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$13Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Thayer County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,531 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $326,000 on 25 claims here.

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

Top risks in Thayer County

Hail

High
$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh97.1
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low22.2
$3M
Strong windHigh89.0
$2M
DroughtModerate85.6
$1M
TornadoLow49.3
$1M
Ice stormModerate63.7
$167K
LightningLow33.0
$129K
Heat waveVery Low24.4
$97K
Winter weatherLow60.1
$96K
Cold waveVery Low8.8
$66K
WildfireVery Low44.7
$36K
EarthquakeVery Low10.7
$11K
LandslideVery Low6.4
$13

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood6
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor 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
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 16, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2008Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 22
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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
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 599 storm reports in Thayer County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 93 injuries and about $158 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 4, 1955.

63tornadoes
286hail reports, largest 4 inches
190damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 4, 1955F4–0 / 0
May 9, 1953F3–80 / 5
Jun 12, 1984F3–5 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F3–0 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 9, 2025Thunderstorm WindDeshler$28M
Jul 9, 2021Thunderstorm WindDavenport$12M
Jun 22, 2003TornadoDeshler$11M
Jun 22, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$7M
Sep 10, 2015HailChester$6M
Aug 25, 2023Thunderstorm WindHubbell$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 6, 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 Thayer County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
4.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$325,837paid on 25 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $163,417 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 Thayer County

$122,800median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1956median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
80%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1%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; 2,497 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
Saline CountyVery Low19
Jefferson CountyVery Low23
Fillmore CountyVery Low23
Washington County, KSVery Low19
Republic County, KSVery Low15
Nuckolls CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Thayer County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Thayer County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Thayer County, about $4.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Thayer County had?

Thayer County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Thayer County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 24th 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 Thayer County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Thayer 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 Thayer County had?

NOAA records list 63 tornadoes in Thayer County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 4, 1955. The weather service has also logged 286 hail reports and 17 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.