Buffalo County, NE
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Buffalo County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Buffalo County's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 33% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Buffalo County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1967, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (11), flood (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1967.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 74.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50.8 | 10 | 0 | $37.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 24.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 54.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 72 | 5 | 0 | $845K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 98.6 | 97 | 0 | $20.4M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 96.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 80 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 21.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 72.8 | 1 | 0 | $125K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 87.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 23.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Buffalo County ranks in the 38th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 38th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 29th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 41st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 42nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 54th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 67th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 29.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 114 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 49 in 2016–20 vs 65 in 2021–25 (+33% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Buffalo County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Buffalo County, Nebraska are hail, strong wind, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Buffalo County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Buffalo County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Buffalo County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Buffalo County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does Buffalo County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hall County, NE has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Sherman County, NE has the lowest (Very Low). Buffalo County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Buffalo County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Buffalo County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Buffalo County's composite score of 66 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 66% of US counties.