Enter any address in Jefferson County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Jefferson County. Recent events include heavy rainfall in October 2019 across Saline and Jefferson Counties, and 6 to 8 inches of rain causing considerable flooding in June 2018.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that while most claims have occurred in zones with unknown flood risk, properties in Zone A have experienced flooding with an average water depth of 0.5 feet. Claims in Zone X, typically considered moderate flood risk, have resulted in higher average payouts. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, as well as those in or near identified flood zones, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jefferson County, Nebraska has recorded 42 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 18 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 7 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, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| 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, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 12, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 6, 2015 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Ice Jams, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 6, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2017 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 7, 2015 | 500.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2015 | 5.00M (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2015 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jun 5, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2020
Slow moving storms led to heavy rain and flash flooding in many places across southeast Nebraska.
Flash Flood — Mar 28, 2019
A couple of severe thunderstorms produced large hail and heavy rain along the Nebraska and Kansas border.
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
A 971mb bomb cyclone moved out of the central Rockies on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 and helped to create widespread, moderate to major, and in many cases historic, flooding across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. From 4 to 15 inches of snow cover remained across the mid Missouri River valley, and the ground was frozen with existing frost depths of 15 to 23 inches. Warm temperatures allowed all...
Flash Flood — Oct 1, 2019
Severe thunderstorms developed on a southwest to northeast orientated front across southeast Nebraska .The storms produced heavy rains with 3 to 4 inches rainfall reported across Saline and Jefferson Counties which caused flash flooding. A Supercell thunderstorm moving northeast across Pawnee County produced a funnel cloud north of Du Bois.
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2018
An intense weather system moved very slowly through the mid Missouri Valley, contributing to the development of widespread thunderstorms that produced heavy rainfall during the early-morning hours. The heaviest rainfall occurred over Jefferson County where 6 to 8 amounts resulted in considerable flooding.
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.