Richardson County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

13.8

National percentile: 14th

Richardson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.8, 14th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $6M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 8K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $812K/yr
Wildfire
Low $139K/yr
Ice Storm
Medium $154K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 9.70 / yr $812K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $139K
Ice Storm Medium 0.87 / yr $154K
Heat Wave Low 8.42 / yr $443K
Landslide Very Low 0.16 / yr $2K
Hail Low 7.13 / yr $257K
Tornado Low 0.44 / yr $1M
Cold Wave Low 3.42 / yr $442K
Strong Wind Low 4.57 / yr $243K
Winter Weather Very Low 11.95 / yr $17K
Lightning Very Low 48.30 / yr $62K
Riverine Flood Very Low 2.14 / yr $2M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $14K
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 Richardson County?

Richardson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.8 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 Richardson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $812K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $139K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $154K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Richardson County compare to other Nebraska counties?

Richardson County ranks #59 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. Richardson County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.