Seward County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

24.9

National percentile: 25th

Seward County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 24.9, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $14M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 18K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Medium $3M/yr
Wildfire
Low $331K/yr
Ice Storm
Medium $323K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Medium 7.84 / yr $3M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $331K
Ice Storm Medium 0.77 / yr $323K
Strong Wind Medium 4.50 / yr $1M
Drought Medium 28.74 / yr $631K
Winter Weather Low 13.32 / yr $145K
Tornado Low 0.55 / yr $3M
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.79 / yr $4M
Lightning Very Low 44.29 / yr $107K
Heat Wave Very Low 6.95 / yr $82K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $25K
Cold Wave Very Low 4.11 / yr $187K
Landslide Very Low 0.11 / yr $52
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 Seward County?

Seward County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 24.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Seward County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $3M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $331K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $323K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Seward County compare to other Nebraska counties?

Seward County ranks #40 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. Seward County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.