Webster County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Webster County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, strong wind and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $4,056 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 6 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 Webster County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 98.9 | $7M | ||
| Strong wind | 92.0 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 18.6 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 92.7 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 42.5 | $709K | ||
| Lightning | 78.1 | $495K | ||
| Ice storm | 65.8 | $131K | ||
| Winter weather | 61.1 | $70K | ||
| Heat wave | 23.1 | $61K | ||
| Cold wave | 7.1 | $30K | ||
| Wildfire | 42.7 | $23K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.3 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 10.3 | $21 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Webster County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
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 352 storm reports in Webster County since 1953, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $114 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1990 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1985 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 11, 1991 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 25, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1990 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Hail | Red Cloud | $15M |
| Jul 9, 2014 | Hail | Bladen | $8M |
| Jul 9, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blue Hill | $8M |
| May 19, 2012 | Hail | Blue Hill | $6M |
| May 7, 1993 | Tornado | Red Cloud | $5M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 9, 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 Webster 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 Webster 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; 1,764 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 16 | |
| Kearney County | 14 | |
| Clay County | 17 | |
| Nuckolls County | 19 | |
| Smith County, KS | 14 | |
| Jewell County, KS | 15 | |
| Franklin County | 8 |
Common questions about Webster County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Webster County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Webster County, about $7.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Webster County had?
Webster County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2025.
Is Webster County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Webster County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Webster 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 Webster County had?
NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Webster County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1990. The weather service has also logged 175 hail reports and 12 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.