Chase County, NE
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Chase County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Chase County's highest-rated hazards are hail, drought, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 39% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (27th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Chase County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1990, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (8), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1990.
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 | Very Low | 25.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 3.7 | 5 | 0 | $150K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 9.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 12 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 25.3 | 6 | 0 | $280K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 86.1 | 76 | 0 | $25K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 25.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 24.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 34.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 22.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 68 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 5.1 | 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
Chase County ranks in the 27th 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 | 27th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 31st | Low |
| Household characteristics | 71st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 58th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 6th | Very low |
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 | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 48.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 87 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 54 in 2016–20 vs 33 in 2021–25 (-39% — frequency decreasing).
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 Chase County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Chase County, Nebraska are hail, drought, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Chase County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Chase County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Chase County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Chase County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Chase County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Phillips County, CO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Hayes County, NE has the lowest (Very Low). Chase County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Chase County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Chase 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. Chase County's composite score of 7 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 7% of US counties.