Thurston County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.0 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 51.7 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 85.5 | $964K | ||
| Drought | 85.1 | $955K | ||
| Heat wave | 67.2 | $624K | ||
| Wildfire | 86.0 | $601K | ||
| Cold wave | 34.9 | $410K | ||
| Strong wind | 45.4 | $372K | ||
| Ice storm | 39.1 | $39K | ||
| Lightning | 9.6 | $25K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.6 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 75.2 | $7K | ||
| Earthquake | 6.7 | $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
Most recent
Show all 22
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 1954 | F3 | – | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 14, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 4, 2013 | EF2 | Macy | 2 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 1993 | F1 | Pender | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 26, 1993 | Tornado | Pender | $500K |
| Jun 25, 2000 | Flash Flood | Walthill | $400K |
| Jun 17, 1954 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 14, 1967 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 30, 1977 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woodbury County, IA | 16 | |
| Dakota County | 14 | |
| Wayne County | 16 | |
| Cuming County | 22 | |
| Monona County, IA | 18 | |
| Burt County | 18 | |
| Dixon County | 17 |
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.