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York County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
15th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$25Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

York County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, strong wind and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,790 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (54 policies).

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

Top risks in York County

Hail

High
$9.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
HailHigh98.1
$9M
Strong windHigh95.9
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low25.0
$4M
TornadoModerate67.0
$3M
DroughtModerate85.5
$2M
Cold waveVery Low21.4
$376K
Ice stormModerate71.2
$347K
LightningLow48.9
$332K
Winter weatherModerate70.8
$199K
Heat waveVery Low26.4
$159K
WildfireVery Low37.4
$32K
EarthquakeVery Low16.3
$29K
LandslideVery Low6.0
$15

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included York County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Tornado1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2022Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2021Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, 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
Show all 18
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Jun 23, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & 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 512 storm reports in York County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 36 injuries and about $331 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 5, 1964.

49tornadoes
260hail reports, largest 4 inches
158damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 5, 1964F5–30 / 2
Mar 13, 1990F4–2 / 0
May 11, 2014EF3Mc Cool Jct0 / 0
Jun 21, 1957F3–0 / 0
Jun 14, 2022EF2Lushton2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 14, 2022HailYork$90M
Jun 14, 2022Thunderstorm WindWaco$50M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$25M
Jul 10, 2023Thunderstorm WindThayer$14M
Jun 14, 2022Thunderstorm WindYork$10M
Jun 14, 2022HailYork$10M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 York County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (54 policies)
14.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$30,584paid on 9 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $27,149 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 York County

$189,400median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.5%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; 6,370 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
Seward CountyVery Low17
Saline CountyVery Low19
Hamilton CountyVery Low21
Butler CountyVery Low17
Clay CountyLow17
Fillmore CountyVery Low23
Polk CountyVery Low18

Common questions about York County

What is the biggest natural hazard in York County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in York County, about $9.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has York County had?

York County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is York County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 15th 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 York County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in York 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 York County had?

NOAA records list 49 tornadoes in York County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 5, 1964. The weather service has also logged 260 hail reports and 19 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.