Enter any address in Otoe County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
River flooding along the Missouri River is a significant flood character for Otoe County. Recent events include ongoing river flooding in early July 2024, impacting sections of I-29 and its junction with I-680, and riverfront properties in far southeast Nebraska. Earlier in June 2024, strong thunderstorms contributed to unsettled weather and flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties designated as Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $15,526 and an average water depth of 2.2 feet. Properties in Zone X also show claims with higher average payouts and water depths. Residents with properties located near rivers or in Zone A and Zone X should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Otoe County, Nebraska has recorded 65 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 38 river or area floods. The county has received 23 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 (1973–2025)
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, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 6, 2015 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jun 17, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | May 24, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornado, And Straight-lin | Severe Storm | Sep 13, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 24, 2024 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 11, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 24, 2024
A series of shortwave troughs traversing the northern CONUS brought unsettled weather to the area for the end of June. On the 21st, a stationary front was draped across northeast Nebraska into Iowa. Ahead of one of the aforementioned shortwave troughs, several rounds of strong thunderstorms developed near this frontal zone and moved across northeast Nebraska. At 8 pm on the 21st, radar imagery ...
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 — Jun 24, 2021
Training storms developed across southeast Nebraska, produced strong winds and caused flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jun 27, 2020
Scattered storms produced a couple of severe reports and led to flash flooding.
Flood — Jun 18, 2020
A cold front moved across eastern Nebraska and produced damaging winds, flash flooding, and a few hail reports.
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 Otoe 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 Otoe 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.