4 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Hayes County, Nebraska. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from intense precipitation dominates the flood profile of Hayes County. According to NOAA Storm Events Database records from the past 30 years, the county experienced 25 flash flood events alongside 3 general flood events.
Heavy rainfall events frequently threaten local infrastructure. For example, during the early morning hours of May 26, 2023, very heavy rain fell across southern portions of Hayes and Chase counties, causing flash flooding that resulted in the closure of Highway 25 and Highway 6 in southern Hayes County due to water covering the roadway.
Property owners and real estate professionals in low-lying areas, near regional highways, and along local drainage paths should pay the closest attention to flood risks during periods of heavy seasonal rainfall.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
9 NOAA storm reports from Hayes County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Nebraska flood stories →
19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, 4 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | May 20, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Mar 9, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | May 6, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding | Jun 19, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Ice Jams, And Flooding | Mar 6, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | May 22, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | May 28, 2007 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
28 since 1996: 25 flash floods and 3 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2023 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2023 | $25,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2023 | $100,000 |
| Flood | May 26, 2023 | $15,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2019 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2015 | $5,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2014 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · May 26, 2023. During the early morning hours of May 26th, very heavy rain fell across southern portions of Chase and Hayes counties in southwestern Nebraska. The heavy rainfall led to flash flooding over southern Chase and southern Hayes counties in Nebraska. Highway 6 and highway 61 were closed in southeastern Chase County due to water covering the roadway. Highway 25 and highway 6 was also closed in southern Hayes County due…
Flood · May 26, 2023. During the early morning hours of May 26th, very heavy rain fell across southern portions of Chase and Hayes counties in southwestern Nebraska. The heavy rainfall led to flash flooding over southern Chase and southern Hayes counties in Nebraska. Highway 6 and highway 61 were closed in southeastern Chase County due to water covering the roadway. Highway 25 and highway 6 was also closed in southern Hayes County due…
Flash Flood · Aug 10, 2019. Thunderstorms developed in the evening across southwest Nebraska. An isolated thunderstorm developed late evening across the northern Sandhills.
Flash Flood · May 28, 2018. A persistent upper level low pressure system, which has been present across the western U.S. for much of the month of May, again has been the trigger for another round of severe weather across the area to end the month.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Hayes County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.