Deuel County, Nebraska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NE
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 4th
Deuel County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 4.0, 4th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Deuel County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 4.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 4th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $861K in expected annual loss and about 80.09 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $411K in expected annual loss and about 6.38 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Low risk — $130K in expected annual loss and about 45.25 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $2M in expected annual loss for a population of 2K.
Beyond physical exposure, Deuel County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Deuel County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 2001, including 4 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, Deuel County ranks #74 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 80.09 / yr | $861K |
| Hail | Low | 6.38 / yr | $411K |
| Lightning | Low | 45.25 / yr | $130K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 4.68 / yr | $191K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 14.16 / yr | $13K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $155K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.98 / yr | $92K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $3K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $4K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $463K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $2 |
| 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
Deuel County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 2001, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), Biological (2), Flood (1).
| 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 |
| June 2018 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| July 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| January 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| July 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| May 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Deuel County?
Deuel County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 4.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 4th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Deuel County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $861K EAL), Hail (Low, $411K EAL), Lightning (Low, $130K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Deuel County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Deuel County ranks #74 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Deuel County had?
FEMA records 9 federal disaster declarations for Deuel County since 2001, most often 4 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. Deuel County's $2M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.