Cherry County, Nebraska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NE
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 14th
Cherry County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.6, 14th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Cherry County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 13.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 14th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $932K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $439K in expected annual loss and about 67.64 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 4.32 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 5K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cherry County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Cherry County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 5 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 93 Nebraska counties, Cherry County ranks #61 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $932K |
| Drought | Medium | 67.64 / yr | $439K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 4.32 / yr | $2K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 18.25 / yr | $75K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 6.80 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 4.21 / yr | $198K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.11 / yr | $29K |
| Tornado | Low | 1.86 / yr | $339K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $29K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.22 / yr | $50K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 40.77 / yr | $57K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.36 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.71 / yr | $57K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Cherry County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), Biological (2), Flood (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| February 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| July 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2006 | Fire | Big Rock Fire |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| May 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cherry County?
Cherry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 14th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cherry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $932K EAL), Drought (Medium, $439K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cherry County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Cherry County ranks #61 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cherry County had?
FEMA records 11 federal disaster declarations for Cherry County since 1967, most often 5 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 2020.
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. Cherry County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.