Washington County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Washington 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 39th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $676 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 39 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.2 million on 159 claims here, including $1.8 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Washington 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 | 27.1 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 66.5 | $4M | ||
| Hail | 79.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 36.7 | $943K | ||
| Drought | 69.9 | $852K | ||
| Wildfire | 82.1 | $839K | ||
| Strong wind | 47.3 | $834K | ||
| Ice storm | 52.5 | $156K | ||
| Heat wave | 18.3 | $86K | ||
| Lightning | 9.7 | $54K | ||
| Winter weather | 11.6 | $15K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.4 | $15K | ||
| Landslide | 75.0 | $15K |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Washington 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 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 358 storm reports in Washington County since 1953, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $28.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on April 26, 2024 near Washington.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2024 | EF4 | Washington | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1953 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 2025 | EF2 | Nashville | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 2, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 2001 | F1 | Arlington | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2004 | Hail | Blair | $10M |
| Aug 6, 1999 | Flash Flood | Arlington | $4M |
| Oct 1, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Calhoun | $3M |
| Aug 9, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Washington | $3M |
| Aug 20, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 2, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Washington 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 Washington 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; 8,711 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 27 | |
| Pottawattamie County, IA | 24 | |
| Dodge County | 19 | |
| Harrison County, IA | 22 | |
| Burt County | 18 |
Common questions about Washington County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Washington County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Washington County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Washington County had?
Washington County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2025.
Is Washington County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 39th 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 Washington County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Washington 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 Washington County had?
NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on April 26, 2024 near Washington. The weather service has also logged 163 hail reports and 28 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.