Thurston County
Nebraska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Thurston County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 26.4, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $601K |
| Hail | Medium | 6.14 / yr | $964K |
| Drought | Medium | 42.29 / yr | $955K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.20 / yr | $7K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.32 / yr | $624K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.30 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.01 / yr | $372K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.92 / yr | $39K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 6.37 / yr | $410K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.71 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 14.74 / yr | $12K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 42.47 / yr | $25K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| 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 Thurston County?
Thurston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 26.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Thurston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $601K EAL), Hail (Medium, $964K EAL), Drought (Medium, $955K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Thurston County compare to other Nebraska counties?
Thurston County ranks #36 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. Thurston County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.