Saunders County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

29.1

National percentile: 29th

Saunders County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 29.1, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $16M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 22K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Medium $3M/yr
Drought
Medium $1M/yr
Wildfire
Low $344K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Medium 7.25 / yr $3M
Drought Medium 31.13 / yr $1M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $344K
Strong Wind Medium 4.33 / yr $1M
Ice Storm Medium 0.73 / yr $265K
Tornado Low 0.66 / yr $3M
Landslide Very Low 0.15 / yr $3K
Winter Weather Low 13.68 / yr $108K
Riverine Flood Very Low 2.00 / yr $6M
Heat Wave Very Low 7.47 / yr $106K
Lightning Very Low 45.39 / yr $105K
Cold Wave Very Low 4.68 / yr $317K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $20K
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 Saunders County?

Saunders County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 29.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 29th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Saunders County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $3M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $344K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Saunders County compare to other Nebraska counties?

Saunders County ranks #31 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. Saunders County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.