Brown County
Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 2th
Brown County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 2.4, 2th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 42.12 / yr | $548K |
| Hail | Low | 5.03 / yr | $489K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $92K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 17.32 / yr | $49K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 6.63 / yr | $550K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $144 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.45 / yr | $267K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.71 / yr | $138K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.00 / yr | $35K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $13K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 41.09 / yr | $27K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $498K |
| 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 Brown County?
Brown County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 2.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 2th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Brown County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $548K EAL), Hail (Low, $489K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $92K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brown County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Brown County ranks #78 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. Brown County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.