Enter any address in Washington County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is a significant flood concern in Washington County, Nebraska. In the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 19 flood events and 12 flash flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding reported on August 2, 2023, due to heavy rainfall, and ongoing river flooding along the Missouri River in early July 2024, which impacted transportation routes and riverside properties.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, designated Special Flood Hazard Areas, have experienced the most claims. These claims averaged $22,266 with an average water depth of 2.3 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED and Zone UNKNOWN also show a history of claims with notable average payouts and water depths. Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay particular attention to properties located in Zone A and areas near rivers or streams, as these locations have historically seen the most significant flood impacts and payouts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
20 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Washington County, Nebraska has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 19 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1971–2025)
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 | Jun 19, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Tornado | Apr 25, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jul 9, 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 24, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2014 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2014 | 50.00K |
| Flood | May 26, 2011 | 25.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 9, 2025
A powerful thunderstorm, characterized by a broad swath of destructive winds, swept across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa on the morning of August 9, 2025. The event was responsible for one fatality and seven injuries, as well as widespread property and tree damage. This devastating storm was spawned by a large low-pressure system moving across the northern Great Plains. A trailing front and...
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 — Aug 2, 2023
An upper-level short-wave helped lead to clusters of weak thunderstorms the morning of August 2. Early in the event, there were a couple of wind reports with a 71 mph wind measured at the Norfolk Airport. A moisture rich environment led to efficient downpours from thunderstorms. Additionally, clusters tracked over the same locations helping lead to high rainfall totals. There were several repor...
Flood — Mar 14, 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.