Knox County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

29.7

National percentile: 30th

Knox County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 29.7, 30th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $10M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 8K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $1M/yr
Wildfire
Low $463K/yr
Hail
Medium $817K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 31.97 / yr $1M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $463K
Hail Medium 5.60 / yr $817K
Winter Weather Medium 15.68 / yr $183K
Ice Storm Medium 0.90 / yr $234K
Cold Wave Low 6.47 / yr $1M
Tornado Low 0.74 / yr $1M
Landslide Very Low 0.55 / yr $789
Strong Wind Low 2.75 / yr $335K
Riverine Flood Very Low 1.11 / yr $4M
Heat Wave Very Low 4.95 / yr $123K
Lightning Low 39.34 / yr $93K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $15K
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 Knox County?

Knox County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 29.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 30th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Knox County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $463K EAL), Hail (Medium, $817K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Knox County compare to other Nebraska counties?

Knox County ranks #30 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. Knox County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.