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Valley County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
37th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$9Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Valley 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 37th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $9.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,213 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 5 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 Valley County

Hail

High
$3.2 million 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 32 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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
HailHigh95.3
$3M
DroughtModerate89.4
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low12.1
$2M
Strong windModerate80.9
$1M
TornadoLow30.5
$547K
Cold waveVery Low16.5
$177K
WildfireLow66.3
$136K
Winter weatherModerate62.1
$101K
Ice stormLow47.8
$80K
LightningVery Low17.4
$62K
Heat waveVery Low8.9
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low8.0
$8K
LandslideVery Low19.7
$116

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 Valley County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood4
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Jun 26, 2017Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Jul 24, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 9, 1994Severe Snow and Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & 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 356 storm reports in Valley County since 1953, with 12 deaths and 4 injuries and about $103 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1953.

25tornadoes
201hail reports, largest 3 inches
106damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 7, 1953F4–0 / 11
Aug 5, 1960F3–2 / 1
Jun 3, 1999F3Ord0 / 0
May 28, 1959F2–2 / 0
Jul 6, 1987F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 9, 2014HailNorth Loup$8M
Jul 9, 2014HailArcadia$8M
Jul 9, 2014HailOrd$8M
Jul 9, 2014HailOrd$7M
May 12, 2022Thunderstorm WindArcadia$7M
Jun 19, 2000HailOrd$4M

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 Valley County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
2.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$110,663paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $80,915 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 Valley County

$154,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.2%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; 2,108 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
Custer CountyVery Low18
Sherman CountyVery Low17
Greeley CountyVery Low18
Garfield CountyVery Low12
Wheeler CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Valley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Valley County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Valley County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Valley County had?

Valley County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in July 2022.

Is Valley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 37th 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 Valley County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Valley County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1953. The weather service has also logged 201 hail reports and 9 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.