Enter any address in Seward County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the primary flood hazard in Seward County, NE. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 21 flood events and 9 flash flood events. For example, intense rainfall of 4 to 6 inches was observed on September 1, 2025, with rates reaching 2 to 3 inches per hour in localized areas. River flooding was also ongoing in July 2024, impacting sections of I-29 and adjacent properties.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $5,577 and an average water depth of 0.7 feet. While Zone X_SHADED has had fewer claims, one claim resulted in a significant payout of $18,880, though with no reported water depth. Residents in Zone A, and those in Zone X_SHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Seward County, Nebraska has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 9 flash floods and 21 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 |
| 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, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Tornado | May 11, 2014 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Sep 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 5, 2015 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Aug 28, 2014 | 5.00K |
Flood — Sep 1, 2025
On the morning of September 1, 2025, a mesoscale vorticity maximum advancing into eastern Nebraska provided the necessary forcing for lift, resulting in a persistent band of moderate to heavy showers. The concurrent presence of a 20-25 knot low-level jet significantly enhanced the inflow of a very moist, albeit weakly unstable, air mass. This dynamic led to radar-estimated rainfall rates reachi...
Flash 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 4, 2023
Widespread severe weather was observed across Eastern Nebraska on the afternoon and evening of July 4. Storms initially were discrete or multi-clustered and produced mainly hail. The largest hail report was 2.75 inches near Tarnov in Platte County. A QLCS formed as storms merged along a cold front and strong wind gusts became the primary hazard. Numerous locations observed 60+ mph wind gusts. A...
Flash Flood — Jun 24, 2021
Training storms developed across southeast Nebraska, produced strong winds and caused flash flooding.
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...
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 Seward 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 Seward 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.