Enter any address in Dawson County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms dominates the flood risk in Dawson County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 14 flash flood events and 7 general flood events. For example, excessive rainfall and flash flooding occurred on July 8, 2019, impacting western Dawson County. Widespread flooding of low-lying areas, fields, creeks, and rivers was also reported in May 2019 following heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A and Zone X have experienced flooding. While Zone A properties saw an average payout of $4,437 with an average water depth of -0.1 feet, Zone X properties had a higher average payout of $10,125 with an average water depth of -0.4 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED experienced the highest average payouts and water depths. Residents in areas designated as Zone A and Zone X, particularly those in unshaded areas, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dawson County, Nebraska has recorded 21 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 15 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 (1978–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Morrill-cottonwood Fire | Fire | Mar 12, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2024 |
| 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 Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 22, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 28, 2007 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Dec 19, 2006 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Nov 27, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2019 | 2.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2019 | 10.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Jul 5, 2018 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2018 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 15, 2015 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2015 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Sep 23, 2013 | 50.00K |
Flood — May 28, 2019
Widespread flooding of low-lying areas, fields, creeks, and rivers continued. A large area of heavy rain fell due to multiple thunderstorm episodes on the nights of the 26th and 27th, and resulted in 3 to 5 inch totals over much of south central Nebraska. The swath of greatest rainfall amounts extended from Alma to Hastings to Columbus. This swath was surrounded by rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inc...
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2019
Excessive rainfall, flash flooding, and severe winds occurred on this Monday afternoon and evening. Widely scattered thunderstorms began forming around 1 PM CST along and west of Highway 183. By 2 PM CST, a persistent line segment of thunderstorms began affecting western Dawson county. Over the following four hours, this southwest-northeast oriented line slowly crept east across Dawson county i...
Flood — Jul 5, 2018
Excessive rainfall occurred over eastern Dawson and western Buffalo counties on this Wednesday night and very early Thursday morning, with flash flooding south of Sumner. During the evening hours, numerous thunderstorms developed from near McCook to North Platte to Broken Bow to Albion. Around 9 PM CST, a separate, small cluster of thunderstorms formed over eastern Dawson county. Repeated cell ...
Flash Flood — Jul 5, 2018
Excessive rainfall occurred over eastern Dawson and western Buffalo counties on this Wednesday night and very early Thursday morning, with flash flooding south of Sumner. During the evening hours, numerous thunderstorms developed from near McCook to North Platte to Broken Bow to Albion. Around 9 PM CST, a separate, small cluster of thunderstorms formed over eastern Dawson county. Repeated cell ...
Flash Flood — Jun 17, 2016
During a June that featured a below-average quantity of severe weather within South Central Nebraska, this late Friday afternoon-night episode ended up being the most widespread round of the month. The majority of severe storms targeted areas west of the Highway 281 corridor, mainly producing damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall/flooding, along with a few reports of large hail. Some of the...
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 Dawson 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 Dawson 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.