Dawes County, NE
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dawes County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1991, most recently South Fork Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Dawes County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, drought, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 42% 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. Dawes County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1991, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (4), fire (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | South Fork Fire |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 2012 | Fire | Region 23 Fire Complex |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2006 | Fire | Dawes County Fire Complex |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1991.
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 | 81.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 6.1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 24.9 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 9.4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 21.6 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 52.7 | 91 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 11.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 63.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 14.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 33.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 35.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 66.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 31.6 | 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
Dawes County ranks in the 32nd 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 | 32nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 25th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 50th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 42nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 37th | 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 | 88th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 89th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 98 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 62 in 2016–20 vs 36 in 2021–25 (-42% — 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 Dawes County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dawes County, Nebraska are wildfire, drought, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Dawes County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dawes County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1991, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Dawes County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Dawes County include South Fork Fire (2026), Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1991.
How does Dawes County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Scotts Bluff County, NE has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Sioux County, NE has the lowest (Very Low). Dawes County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Dawes County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dawes 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. Dawes County's composite score of 6 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 6% of US counties.