Enter any address in Lancaster County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates Lancaster County, NE. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 49 flash flood events and 12 flood events in the county. Recent examples include a flash flood event on August 10, 2025, associated with severe thunderstorms, and another on July 1, 2024, where river flooding persisted along portions of the Missouri River.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $13,609 and an average water depth of 2.5 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED also saw significant claims with an average payout of $4,761 and an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and those located near rivers or in low-lying areas should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lancaster County, Nebraska has recorded 61 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 49 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 5 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 Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 8, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | Mar 18, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 31, 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, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 6, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Ice Jams, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 6, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 22, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2025
A powerful line of thunderstorms, bringing with it a broad swath of damaging winds, swept across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa on the morning of August 10, 2025. This episode of severe weather was responsible for numerous reports of wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, significant structural damage, and tragically, one fatality. The thunderstorms developed as a powerful low-pressure system moved ac...
Flood — Jul 2, 2024
At the beginning of July, river flooding was still ongoing along portions of the Missouri River extending from east-central Nebraska/southwest Iowa to the southern Nebraska border. Most of the length of the river crested at the end of June, so the greatest impacts are addressed in June StormData. However, sections of I-29 and the I-29/I680 junction remained closed through the first week of July...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2024
At the beginning of July, river flooding was still ongoing along portions of the Missouri River extending from east-central Nebraska/southwest Iowa to the southern Nebraska border. Most of the length of the river crested at the end of June, so the greatest impacts are addressed in June StormData. However, sections of I-29 and the I-29/I680 junction remained closed through the first week of July...
Flash Flood — Aug 7, 2021
A midlevel shortwave moved through the area producing storms with severe criteria hail and wind gusts. In Omaha, 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over about an hour which led to a flash flood warning being issued. Flash flooding washed through basement apartments, swept up cars, and heaved pavement in low-lying areas of the Omaha metro area. The City of Omaha Public Works office estimates the damage ...
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2020
Slow moving storms led to heavy rain and flash flooding in many places across southeast Nebraska.
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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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.