Enter any address in Holt County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Holt County, NE, with 17 recorded instances in the last 30 years. This is followed by 6 general flood events. Recent events include flash flooding in the Long Pine and O'Neill areas on June 20, 2024, and historical flooding along the Niobrara River and its tributaries in March 2019, which resulted in dam failures and a fatality.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of 5 claims with payouts averaging $155 and water depths of -1.4 feet. In contrast, Zone X_UNSHADED has had 1 claim with an average payout of $4,126 and water depths averaging 2.0 feet. Homeowners in areas near rivers and streams, as well as those in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Holt County, Nebraska has recorded 23 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 16 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 (2003–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2024 |
| 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, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Ice Jams, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 6, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Mar 16, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 12, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 22, 2011 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2024
Thunderstorms developed along a stationary frontal boundary, which was draped across the central Sandhills, during the late afternoon hours of June 20th. This activity became severe later on with hail up to ping pong size, thunderstorm wind gusts up to 70 MPH and a couple of tornadoes. Flash flooding was also reported in the Long Pine and O'Neill areas.
Flood — Mar 16, 2019
Historical flooding occurred in north central Nebraska as rivers, creeks and other streams rose due to the combination of snow, rain, and rapid snow melt on top of frozen ground. The greatest flooding occurred along the Niobrara, Keya Paha, Elkhorn and Loup Rivers; Ponca, Long Pine, Victoria and Cedar creeks; and one fatality occurred from the failure of Spencer Dam that is located on the Niobr...
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
Historical flooding occurred in north central Nebraska as rivers, creeks and other streams rose due to the combination of snow, rain, and rapid snow melt on top of frozen ground. The greatest flooding occurred along the Niobrara, Keya Paha, Elkhorn and Loup Rivers; Ponca, Long Pine, Victoria and Cedar creeks; and one fatality occurred from the failure of Spencer Dam that is located on the Niobr...
Flash Flood — Sep 12, 2019
A strong upper level trough of low pressure forced a cold front through western and north central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours of September 11th. Thunderstorms developed in the eastern Nebraska Panhandle and moved east and southeast during the evening hours. Hail up to two and a half inches in diameter and thunderstorm wind gusts to 80 MPH were reported.
Flash Flood — Sep 11, 2019
A strong upper level trough of low pressure forced a cold front through western and north central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours of September 11th. Thunderstorms developed in the eastern Nebraska Panhandle and moved east and southeast during the evening hours. Hail up to two and a half inches in diameter and thunderstorm wind gusts to 80 MPH were reported.
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 Holt 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 Holt 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.