Enter any address in Hamilton County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Hamilton County, NE. Between 2013 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 12 flash flood events and 5 flood events. Recent examples include widespread flooding of low-lying areas, fields, creeks, and rivers following heavy rain in May 2019, and localized flooding from heavy rain in August 2017.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A experienced higher average payouts and water depths compared to properties with an unknown flood zone designation. Homeowners in areas identified as Zone A, or those with properties in low-lying areas, near creeks, or rivers, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hamilton County, Nebraska has recorded 17 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | Mar 18, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jul 9, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Snowstorm | Apr 13, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 6, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2016 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jun 4, 2015 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Sep 28, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 12, 2011 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jan 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2011 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Aug 26, 2009 | 10.00K |
Flash Flood — May 2, 2021
Slow moving front brought severe thunderstorms, including landspouts, and heavy rain to portions of south central Nebraska during the evening of May 2nd. A line of thunderstorms blossomed along a stationary front between 6-8PM CDT from southern Gosper County E to Adams County, then NE to Polk County. Once this activity developed, it remained nearly stationary until around 10PM CDT when an upper...
Flood — May 27, 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 — Aug 16, 2017
Between the afternoon of Tuesday the 15th and the morning of Wednesday the 16th, roughly the northern half of this 24-county South Central Nebraska area saw its most significant heavy rain and localized flooding event of 2017, along with a smattering of severe storms (including one that pounded the Fullerton area with tennis ball to baseball size hail). Focusing first on the heavy rain and floo...
Flash Flood — May 10, 2016
Thunderstorms produced mostly hail along with a little wind damage, and excessive rainfall on this Tuesday afternoon and evening. The first thunderstorms began forming just after 3 pm and were part of a broken line of isolated storms that extended from O'neill south to near Kearney, and then southwest into Kansas. A dominant storm developed along the Hall-Howard County line by 4 p.m.. This stor...
Flood — Jun 4, 2015
For the third consecutive night, this time from the evening of Thursday the 4th into the early morning of Friday the 5th, several rounds of thunderstorms rumbled across much of the 24-county South Central Nebraska area. And for the second straight night, the majority of storms concentrated within the southeastern half of the area. Although the first few hours of evening convection yielded sever...
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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.