Rock County, Nebraska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NE
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 1th
Rock County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.7, 1th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $1M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Rock County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 0.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 1st 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 — $135K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $117K in expected annual loss and about 36.30 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Very Low risk — $131K in expected annual loss and about 5.18 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $1M in expected annual loss for a population of 1K.
Beyond physical exposure, Rock County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Rock County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 2001, including 9 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, Rock County ranks #85 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $135K |
| Drought | Low | 36.30 / yr | $117K |
| Hail | Very Low | 5.18 / yr | $131K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 17.16 / yr | $31K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $19K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 6.42 / yr | $237K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $153K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.69 / yr | $97K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.26 / yr | $17K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $8 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 40.70 / yr | $20K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $315K |
| 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
Rock County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 2001, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), 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 |
| June 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| July 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| February 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| July 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Rock County?
Rock County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 1th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rock County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Very Low, $135K EAL), Drought (Low, $117K EAL), Hail (Very Low, $131K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rock County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Rock County ranks #85 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Rock County had?
FEMA records 14 federal disaster declarations for Rock County since 2001, most often 9 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. Rock County's $1M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.