Box Butte County
Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 21th
Box Butte County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 21.0, 21th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 84.33 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.71 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 15.21 / yr | $137K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $103K |
| Lightning | Low | 43.81 / yr | $298K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.03 / yr | $102K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 5.79 / yr | $998K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $108K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.51 / yr | $611K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.40 / yr | $204K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $21K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $955K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $8 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Box Butte County?
Box Butte County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 21.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 21th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Box Butte County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $4M EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $137K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Box Butte County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Box Butte County ranks #48 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Box Butte County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.