Douglas County, Nebraska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NE
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Douglas County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.9, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $234M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Douglas County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 96th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Very High risk — $24M in expected annual loss and about 6.87 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Very High risk — $16M in expected annual loss and about 4.34 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Very High risk — $64M in expected annual loss and about 0.29 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $234M in expected annual loss for a population of 584K.
Beyond physical exposure, Douglas County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The federal record bears this out: Douglas County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 15 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in October 2025.
Among 93 Nebraska counties, Douglas County ranks #1 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Very High | 6.87 / yr | $24M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 4.34 / yr | $16M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.29 / yr | $64M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 13.68 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 0.91 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | High | 8.16 / yr | $14M |
| Cold Wave | High | 4.74 / yr | $20M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.79 / yr | $88M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 46.03 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.16 / yr | $20K |
| Drought | Low | 14.46 / yr | $377K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $373K |
| 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
Douglas County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2025. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Flood (7), Tornado (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2025 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| October 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| September 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| August 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| September 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Douglas County?
Douglas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.9 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Douglas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Very High, $24M EAL), Strong Wind (Very High, $16M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $64M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Douglas County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Douglas County ranks #1 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Douglas County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Douglas County since 1967, most often 15 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding, declared in October 2025.
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. Douglas County's $234M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.