Jefferson County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

24.1

National percentile: 24th

Jefferson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 24.1, 24th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $8M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 7K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Medium $2M/yr
Wildfire
Low $223K/yr
Strong Wind
Medium $951K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Medium 8.10 / yr $2M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $223K
Strong Wind Medium 4.71 / yr $951K
Ice Storm Medium 1.02 / yr $189K
Drought Medium 25.01 / yr $424K
Winter Weather Low 12.11 / yr $81K
Tornado Low 0.55 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Very Low 7.68 / yr $155K
Lightning Low 45.59 / yr $95K
Riverine Flood Very Low 1.32 / yr $3M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $12K
Landslide Very Low 0.12 / yr $21
Cold Wave Very Low 3.32 / yr $56K
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 Jefferson County?

Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 24.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 24th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $223K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $951K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Jefferson County compare to other Nebraska counties?

Jefferson County ranks #43 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. Jefferson County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.