Enter any address in Polk County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Polk County, NE. Between 2014 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 12 flash flood events and 7 flood events. Recent significant events include widespread flooding in late May 2019, where heavy rain produced 3 to 5 inch totals over much of south central Nebraska, and a localized flooding event in mid-August 2017 that impacted the northern half of the region with 2-4 inches of rain.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of $6,571 in payouts with an average water depth of 0.5 feet. Properties in Zone Unknown have had fewer claims with an average payout of $150 and 0.0 feet of water depth. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those located near creeks and rivers, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Polk County, Nebraska has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 4 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, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | May 12, 2022 |
| 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 | Jun 1, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2019 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2016 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Aug 18, 2015 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2015 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Sep 9, 2014 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Feb 27, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 12, 2011 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2011 | 25.00K |
Flood — Jun 22, 2024
Although it impacted only a handful of west central and especially northern counties of South Central Nebraska, a persistent narrow band of heavy rain on the evening of Friday the 21st into the pre-dawn of Saturday the 22nd caused what was likely the overall most impactful flooding event of 2024 within the 24-county area. Over the course of 10 hours between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m. CDT, numerous and m...
Flood — May 27, 2019
Widespread flooding of low-lying areas, fields, creeks, and rivers continued. A large area of heavy rain fell due to multiple thunderstorm episodes on the nights of the 26th and 27th, and resulted in 3 to 5 inch totals over much of south central Nebraska. The swath of greatest rainfall amounts extended from Alma to Hastings to Columbus. This swath was surrounded by rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inc...
Flash Flood — Aug 16, 2017
Between the afternoon of Tuesday the 15th and the morning of Wednesday the 16th, roughly the northern half of this 24-county South Central Nebraska area saw its most significant heavy rain and localized flooding event of 2017, along with a smattering of severe storms (including one that pounded the Fullerton area with tennis ball to baseball size hail). Focusing first on the heavy rain and floo...
Flash Flood — May 10, 2016
Thunderstorms produced mostly hail along with a little wind damage, and excessive rainfall on this Tuesday afternoon and evening. The first thunderstorms began forming just after 3 pm and were part of a broken line of isolated storms that extended from O'neill south to near Kearney, and then southwest into Kansas. A dominant storm developed along the Hall-Howard County line by 4 p.m.. This stor...
Flood — Aug 18, 2015
A fairly significant-but-localized rural flooding event unfolded within north central and northeast portions of Polk County, ramping up during the early morning hours of Tuesday Aug. 18th and persisting into the afternoon of Wednesday the 19th before markedly improving (severe weather in the form of large hail/damaging winds were not an issue). The worst flooding impacts were confined to a rath...
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 Polk 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 Polk 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.