Washington County, Nebraska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NE
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Washington County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.5, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 25.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 26th 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.
Most of Washington County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $839K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 6.75 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $15K in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 21K.
Beyond physical exposure, Washington County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Washington County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 12 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in October 2025.
Among 93 Nebraska counties, Washington County ranks #39 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $839K |
| Hail | Medium | 6.75 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.14 / yr | $15K |
| Drought | Medium | 25.26 / yr | $852K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.32 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.81 / yr | $156K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.38 / yr | $834K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 5.11 / yr | $943K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.93 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.95 / yr | $86K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 13.74 / yr | $15K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 45.20 / yr | $54K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Washington County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2025. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Flood (6), Tornado (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2025 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| September 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| August 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| February 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| September 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Washington County?
Washington County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Washington County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $839K EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL), Landslide (Low, $15K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Washington County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Washington County ranks #39 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Washington County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Washington County since 1971, most often 12 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding, declared in October 2025.
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. Washington County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.