Niobrara County, Wyoming
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Niobrara County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $1.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $745 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2015 (severe storms and flooding). Only 2 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 Niobrara 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 6.9 | $691K | ||
| Cold wave | 43.0 | $522K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.9 | $310K | ||
| Tornado | 13.5 | $81K | ||
| Hail | 25.7 | $68K | ||
| Earthquake | 28.4 | $45K | ||
| Winter weather | 46.1 | $40K | ||
| Lightning | 11.6 | $28K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.3 | $13K | ||
| Drought | 25.1 | $9K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.6 | $5K | ||
| Ice storm | 4.1 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 35.3 | $328 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Niobrara County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Wyoming also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 304 storm reports in Niobrara County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 28, 1978.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 1978 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 1982 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 13, 1984 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 24, 1960 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 17, 1962 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2015 | Flash Flood | Van Tassell | $2M |
| Jul 28, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 5, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 13, 1984 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Aug 6, 2006 | Flash Flood | Redbird | $40K |
| May 24, 1960 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 Niobrara 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 Niobrara 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; 1,425 housing units.
Compare in Wyoming
All 23 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie County | Inland flooding | |
| Natrona County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Cold wave | |
| Sweetwater County | Inland flooding | |
| Fremont County | Inland flooding | |
| Albany County | Inland flooding | |
| Sheridan County | Inland flooding | |
| Park County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Converse County | 3 | |
| Goshen County | 3 | |
| Platte County | 6 | |
| Custer County, SD | 15 | |
| Fall River County, SD | 14 | |
| Weston County | 5 | |
| Sioux County, NE | 12 |
Common questions about Niobrara County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Niobrara County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Niobrara County, about $690,875 a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $521,872.
How many federal disasters has Niobrara County had?
Niobrara County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2015.
Is Niobrara County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 23rd highest of 23 in Wyoming. 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 Niobrara County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Niobrara 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 Niobrara County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Niobrara County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 28, 1978. The weather service has also logged 217 hail reports and 5 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.