Hooker County, Nebraska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NE
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 0th
Hooker County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.3, 0th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $546K.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Hooker County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 0.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 0th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $20K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $45K in expected annual loss and about 58.19 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Very Low risk — $81K in expected annual loss and about 5.27 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $546K in expected annual loss for a population of 711.
Beyond physical exposure, Hooker County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low 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 federal record bears this out: Hooker County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 2001, including 2 for biological events and 2 for severe storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 93 Nebraska counties, Hooker County ranks #88 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| Drought | Low | 58.19 / yr | $45K |
| Hail | Very Low | 5.27 / yr | $81K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.94 / yr | $176 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 16.74 / yr | $15K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 5.95 / yr | $92K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $65K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 42.05 / yr | $12K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $1K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.37 / yr | $3K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.65 / yr | $15K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $192K |
| 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
Hooker County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 2001, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Severe Storm (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 |
| July 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| 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 Hooker County?
Hooker County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 0th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hooker County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Very Low, $20K EAL), Drought (Low, $45K EAL), Hail (Very Low, $81K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hooker County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Hooker County ranks #88 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hooker County had?
FEMA records 6 federal disaster declarations for Hooker County since 2001, most often 2 for biological events and 2 for severe storm 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. Hooker County's $546K EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.