Enter any address in Custer County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms dominates Custer County's flood risk. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 44 flash flood events and 16 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding in northern Custer County on June 2nd, 2025, following heavy rain from thunderstorms. On October 12th, 2023, Broken Bow experienced record rainfall of 5.45 inches in 2 to 3 hours, leading to flooding in and around the city.
While most National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims in Custer County have been in Zone X (unshaded or shaded) with an average payout of $3,167 and $8,057 respectively, and minimal reported water depth, Zone A saw 6 claims averaging $395 with an average water depth of 0.2 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, which typically indicates a moderate to high flood risk, should pay the most attention to flood potential.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
30 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Custer County, Nebraska has recorded 60 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 44 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1978–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | May 12, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 9, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Snowstorm | Apr 13, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Apr 29, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 5, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 22, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 28, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2025 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2024 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 12, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 12, 2023 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 6, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2020 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 2, 2025
An approaching cold front and upper level disturbance, initiated thunderstorms over northern Custer County during the late afternoon hours of June 2nd. This activity then developed along a line from northern Lincoln into southeastern Holt County. This activity tracked slowly to the south into southwestern and central Nebraska and continued into the overnight hours. Heavy rain produced flash flo...
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2024
Thunderstorms developed over the central Sandhills in the vicinity of a stalled out frontal boundary. This activity quickly became severe with large hail up to golf ball size, severe thunderstorm wind gusts to 60 MPH and a tornado was reported over western Custer County. Severe thunderstorms also tracked across far southwestern Nebraska, impacting Chase and Hayes county. Hail up to 3 inches in ...
Flash Flood — Oct 12, 2023
A warm front was situated over southern Nebraska on the morning of October 12th. Aided by strong mid level winds, thunderstorms developed along this front and lifted quickly north into central Nebraska during the mid to late afternoon hours of October 12th. Heavy rain was reported with these storms. Broken Bow received 5.45 inches of rainfall in 2 to 3 hours which led to flooding in and around ...
Flash Flood — Jul 7, 2022
Thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall that led to flash flooding from the evening of July 6 into the morning of July 7 in parts of the panhandle as well as central Nebraska.
Flood — Jul 6, 2021
Scattered thunderstorms moved through southwest Nebraska the afternoon of July 6 and produced damaging winds in Lincoln County and flooding in Custer County.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Custer County, Nebraska:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Custer County, Nebraska that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.