Nebraska natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NE · 22nd most declarations of 51 states/DC
Nebraska has had 86 federally declared disasters since 1960, the 22nd most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (38 declarations, about 44% of the total). The most recent declaration was "South Fork Fire" (Fire), on Jun 10, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Nebraska, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 38 | 44% |
| Flood | 20 | 23% |
| Fire | 9 | 10% |
| Tornado | 6 | 7% |
| Biological | 6 | 7% |
| Snowstorm | 2 | 2% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 69 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 9 |
| Emergency (EM) | 8 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Nebraska's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 19 |
| 2010s | 21 |
| 2020s | 20 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 2026 | South Fork Fire | Fire | FM-5637-NE |
| Mar 13, 2026 | Morrill-cottonwood Fire | Fire | FM-5623-NE |
| Oct 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4896-NE |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | DR-4868-NE |
| Oct 21, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4838-NE |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4822-NE |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Nebraska
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Nebraska in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Nebraska had?
Nebraska has had 86 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1960, the 22nd most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Nebraska?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Nebraska is "Severe Storm", with 38 declarations — about 44% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Nebraska?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Nebraska in this snapshot was "South Fork Fire" (Fire), declared Jun 10, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18