McPherson County

Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

0.1

National percentile: 0th

McPherson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.1, 0th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $526K.

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

Expected Annual Loss $526K Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 399 Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Low $115K/yr
Wildfire
Very Low $35K/yr
Hail
Very Low $128K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Low 57.36 / yr $115K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $35K
Hail Very Low 6.26 / yr $128K
Winter Weather Very Low 16.42 / yr $8K
Landslide Very Low 0.68 / yr $19
Tornado Very Low 0.37 / yr $33K
Cold Wave Very Low 5.05 / yr $24K
Strong Wind Very Low 2.07 / yr $31K
Heat Wave Very Low 2.11 / yr $2K
Lightning Very Low 42.54 / yr $8K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $1K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.02 / yr $396
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.04 / yr $141K
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 McPherson County?

McPherson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 0th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in McPherson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Low, $115K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $35K EAL), Hail (Very Low, $128K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does McPherson County compare to other Nebraska counties?

McPherson County ranks #93 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. McPherson County's $526K EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.