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Thurston County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
36th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$7Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Thurston County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,006 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $552,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Thurston County

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$963,616 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 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 Low19.0
$2M
TornadoLow51.7
$1M
HailModerate85.5
$964K
DroughtModerate85.1
$955K
Heat waveLow67.2
$624K
WildfireLow86.0
$601K
Cold waveLow34.9
$410K
Strong windLow45.4
$372K
Ice stormLow39.1
$39K
LightningVery Low9.6
$25K
Winter weatherVery Low17.6
$12K
LandslideLow75.2
$7K
EarthquakeVery Low6.7
$5K

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 high 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 Thurston County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood7
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1984Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1971FloodsMajor 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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 244 storm reports in Thurston County since 1954, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $4.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 17, 1954.

17tornadoes
112hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 17, 1954F3–0 / 1
Jun 14, 1967F2–0 / 0
Oct 4, 2013EF2Macy2 / 0
Aug 26, 1993F1Pender0 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 7, 1977Tornado–$3M
Aug 26, 1993TornadoPender$500K
Jun 25, 2000Flash FloodWalthill$400K
Jun 17, 1954Tornado–$250K
Jun 14, 1967Tornado–$250K
Jul 30, 1977Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 17, 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 Thurston County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$552,055paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $500,000 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 Thurston County

$114,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.8%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; 2,290 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
Woodbury County, IAModerate16
Dakota CountyVery Low14
Wayne CountyVery Low16
Cuming CountyLow22
Monona County, IAVery Low18
Burt CountyVery Low18
Dixon CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Thurston County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Thurston County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Thurston County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1 million.

How many federal disasters has Thurston County had?

Thurston County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Thurston County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 36th 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 Thurston 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 Thurston County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Thurston County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 17, 1954. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 22 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.