Cherry County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

13.6

National percentile: 14th

Cherry County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.6, 14th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 5K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Wildfire
Low $932K/yr
Drought
Medium $439K/yr
Landslide
Very Low $2K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $932K
Drought Medium 67.64 / yr $439K
Landslide Very Low 4.32 / yr $2K
Winter Weather Low 18.25 / yr $75K
Cold Wave Low 6.80 / yr $1M
Hail Low 4.21 / yr $198K
Ice Storm Low 0.11 / yr $29K
Tornado Low 1.86 / yr $339K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $29K
Heat Wave Very Low 2.22 / yr $50K
Lightning Very Low 40.77 / yr $57K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.36 / yr $2M
Strong Wind Very Low 1.71 / yr $57K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Hurricane Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cherry County?

Cherry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 14th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Cherry County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $932K EAL), Drought (Medium, $439K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Cherry County compare to other Nebraska counties?

Cherry County ranks #61 of 93 Nebraska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Cherry County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.