Flood zones, flood insurance and FEMA help, in plain English

Nebraska flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

6,069NFIP flood claims since 1978
$98.3 millionPaid on those claims
$50,612Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.7%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
$940Typical yearly NFIP costsingle-family home
29Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 6,069 flood insurance claims in Nebraska since 1978. The NFIP paid $98.3 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2019, with 1,165, mostly from March 2019 Midwest Flooding.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 1,333 claims, and the average paid claim was $50,612.

21% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.7% of homes in Nebraska had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (5,587 of 837,251 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 15% (4,450 of 29,159).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 29 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Nebraska. The most recent was DR-4928-NE (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding), declared August 3, 2026.

Flood insurance claims in Nebraska by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Nebraska, 1978 to 202605001k1.5k2k1978: 237 claims, $1.2 million paid1979: 119 claims, $233,637 paid1980: 74 claims, $138,048 paid19801981: 29 claims, $38,520 paid1982: 215 claims, $603,562 paid1983: 120 claims, $171,620 paid1984: 693 claims, $5.4 million paid1985: 69 claims, $212,089 paid1986: 83 claims, $152,845 paid1987: 82 claims, $106,730 paid1988: 6 claims, $2,661 paid1989: 26 claims, $79,978 paid1990: 107 claims, $511,399 paid19901991: 36 claims, $440,171 paid1992: 40 claims, $118,886 paid1993: 691 claims, $6.3 million paid1994: 20 claims, $40,342 paid1995: 29 claims, $88,742 paid1996: 136 claims, $818,147 paid1997: 107 claims, $1.4 million paid1998: 50 claims, $248,449 paid1999: 85 claims, $554,335 paid2000: 8 claims, $18,762 paid20002001: 35 claims, $112,505 paid2002: 17 claims, $26,370 paid2003: 12 claims, $174,995 paid2004: 18 claims, $296,884 paid2005: 51 claims, $216,254 paid2006: 8 claims, $26,908 paid2007: 80 claims, $759,288 paid2008: 202 claims, $1.5 million paid2009: 8 claims, $39,821 paid2010: 377 claims, $7.3 million paid20102011: 396 claims, $7.8 million paid2012: 8 claims, $0 paid2013: 19 claims, $137,388 paid2014: 75 claims, $186,775 paid2015: 265 claims, $4.1 million paid2016: 103 claims, $301,944 paid2017: 17 claims, $537,617 paid2018: 24 claims, $581,709 paid2019: 1,165 claims, $52.6 million paid2020: 15 claims, $172,082 paid20202021: 17 claims, $321,869 paid2022: 7 claims, $30,111 paid2023: 10 claims, $50,673 paid2024: 69 claims, $2.0 million paid2025: 7 claims, $109,235 paid2026: 2 claims, $19,491 paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
20262$19,491
20257$109,235
202469$2.0 million
202310$50,673
20227$30,111
202117$321,869
202015$172,082
20191,165$52.6 million
201824$581,709
201717$537,617
2016103$301,944
2015265$4.1 million
201475$186,775
201319$137,388
20128$0
2011396$7.8 million
2010377$7.3 million
20098$39,821
2008202$1.5 million
200780$759,288
20068$26,908
200551$216,254
200418$296,884
200312$174,995
200217$26,370
200135$112,505
20008$18,762
199985$554,335
199850$248,449
1997107$1.4 million
1996136$818,147
199529$88,742
199420$40,342
1993691$6.3 million
199240$118,886
199136$440,171
1990107$511,399
198926$79,978
19886$2,661
198782$106,730
198683$152,845
198569$212,089
1984693$5.4 million
1983120$171,620
1982215$603,562
198129$38,520
198074$138,048
1979119$233,637
1978237$1.2 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Nebraska, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
March 2019 Midwest Flooding20191,043$44.8 million
Late spring storms2011345$6.9 million
Midwest Flooding1993506$5.0 million
Flooding199078$384,691
Flooding19848$49,764

What flood insurance costs in Nebraska

On June 30, 2026, 7,213 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Nebraska. For the 5,246 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $940; the average was $1,040.

Rated flood zonePoliciesTypical yearly cost, single-family homeAverage costAverage building coverage
High-risk zones (A and V)5,808$910$1,060$171,000
Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X)1,402$1,060$1,000$221,000

Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.

Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Rated zonePoliciesAverage cost, single-family home
AE4,069$1,060
X1,356$1,000
A1,054$1,130
AO464$920
AH114$760
A1542n/a
A0532n/a
C31$850
B15n/a
A088n/a
A127n/a
AOB6n/a
A065n/a
A025n/a
A042n/a

Flood history by county

Every Nebraska county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredTypical NFIP costFlood declarations
Douglas County1,045$14.6 million0.5%$86011
Sarpy County848$21.5 million0.9%$1,0109
Dodge County809$11.8 million4.1%$9906
Cass County410$8.6 million3.0%$1,21012
Lancaster County313$3.0 million0.8%$7107
Saunders County259$4.3 million2.9%$84013
Saline County194$1.1 million0.6%$8609
Gage County184$1.7 million0.4%$1,0909
Colfax County171$1.8 million3.9%$1,0906
Washington County159$3.2 million0.4%$9409
Hall County126$811,5410.2%$9904
Dakota County89$926,4910.3%$1,3607
Dawson County89$508,4791.0%$7605
Platte County87$1.5 million0.7%$1,2105
Richardson County85$2.1 million0.3%n/a11
Lincoln County78$255,3800.7%$69011
Madison County70$3.4 million0.5%$1,1105
Buffalo County64$7.2 million0.6%$1,1108
Burt County63$1.7 million0.4%n/a8
Scotts Bluff County52$177,7150.6%$6405
Nemaha County49$453,6620.2%n/a14
Cuming County43$479,4780.3%n/a7
Seward County28$165,6960.2%n/a8
Cheyenne County27$76,4220.1%n/a3
Otoe County27$415,7280.2%n/a10
Knox County26$804,6190.7%$1,3105
Adams County25$282,4620.5%$7407
Thayer County25$325,8370.4%n/a6
Howard County19$223,3290.8%$1,06011
Boyd County18$313,3270.4%n/a8
Merrick County16$18,9921.0%$1,0903
Antelope County15$406,2490.2%n/a4
Boone County15$134,8040.3%n/a5
Hamilton County15$76,6500.3%n/a8
Red Willow County15$60,0990.1%n/a4
Thurston County13$552,0550.0%n/a12
Pierce County12$197,1150.3%n/a4
Butler County11$288,5770.3%$1,2106
Custer County11$83,4360.4%$7107
Jefferson County10$14,1860.1%n/a8
Phelps County9$79,0460.1%n/a5
York County9$30,5840.7%$1,0908
Valley County8$110,6630.2%n/a6
Keith County7$38,5520.3%n/a3
Holt County6$4,8990.2%n/a6
Polk County6$28,6840.4%n/a6
Nuckolls County5$11,8700.2%n/a7
Wayne County5$5,4440.0%n/a6
Cedar County4$23,7270.4%$1,1904
Kearney County4$6,3490.8%$8406
Nance County4$28,9530.3%n/a6
Stanton County4$153,4050.5%$9605
Deuel County3$15,8830.5%n/a3
Dixon County3$32,7030.4%n/a8
Fillmore County3$44,4910.1%n/a10
Furnas County3$4,1180.1%n/a4
Johnson County3$1,9720.5%n/a9
Webster County3$13,3260.2%n/a5
Box Butte County2$00.1%n/a4
Franklin County2$1,8580.1%n/a3
Garden County2$4,9260.7%n/a6
Wheeler County2$7,7630.1%n/a6
Clay County1$1,5610.2%n/a5
Dundy County1$3,0190.0%n/a6
Logan County1$00.0%n/a7
Sheridan County1$1,1920.1%n/a3
Arthur County0$00.0%n/a6
Banner County0$00.0%n/a2
Blaine County0$00.2%n/a6
Brown County0$00.0%n/a5
Chase County0$00.0%n/a6
Cherry County0$00.0%n/a5
Dawes County0$00.2%n/a4
Frontier County0$00.0%n/a5
Garfield County0$00.0%n/a4
Gosper County0$00.2%n/a2
Grant County0$00.0%n/a1
Greeley County0$00.0%n/a7
Harlan County0$00.1%n/a4
Hayes County0$00.2%n/a9
Hitchcock County0$00.0%n/a2
Hooker County0$00.0%n/a3
Keya Paha County0$00.0%n/a6
Kimball County0$00.1%n/a2
Loup County0$00.0%n/a6
McPherson County0$00.0%n/a5
Morrill County0$00.1%n/a8
Pawnee County0$00.0%n/a9
Perkins County0$00.1%n/a4
Rock County0$00.1%n/a6
Sherman County0$00.1%n/a6
Sioux County0$00.0%n/a5
Thomas County0$00.0%n/a6

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Nebraska

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4928-NE Aug 3, 2026 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4896-NE Oct 22, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4838-NE Oct 21, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4822-NE Sep 24, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4808-NE Aug 20, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4446-NE Jun 17, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4420-NE Mar 21, 2019 Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4387-NE Aug 27, 2018 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4225-NE Jun 25, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4185-NE Jul 28, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4183-NE Jul 24, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4179-NE Jun 17, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4156-NE Nov 26, 2013 Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding No
DR-4014-NE Aug 12, 2011 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4013-NE Aug 12, 2011 Flooding Yes
EM-3323-NE Jun 18, 2011 Flooding No
DR-1945-NE Oct 21, 2010 Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornado, and Straight-Lin No
DR-1924-NE Jul 15, 2010 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1902-NE Apr 21, 2010 Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and Flooding No
DR-1853-NE Jul 31, 2009 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes No
DR-1779-NE Jul 18, 2008 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-1770-NE Jun 20, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1765-NE May 30, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-1721-NE Aug 29, 2007 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1714-NE Jul 24, 2007 Severe Storms and Flooding No

Showing the 25 most recent of 29.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.