Sheridan County, NE
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Sheridan County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 2005, most recently Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Sheridan County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, drought, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 156 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Sheridan County has been designated in 9 declarations since 2005, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (4), biological (2), fire (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 2012 | Fire | Region 23 Fire Complex |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
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 Moderate | 89.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 9.9 | 4 | 0 | $10K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 7.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 23.1 | 10 | 0 | $88K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 59.2 | 142 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 11.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 66 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 11.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 46.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 49.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 80.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 34.8 | 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
Sheridan County ranks in the 35th 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 | 35th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 28th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 43rd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 54th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 39th | 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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 91st | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 156 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 77 in 2016–20 vs 79 in 2021–25 (+3% — relatively stable).
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 Sheridan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Sheridan 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 Sheridan County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Sheridan County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 2005, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Sheridan County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Sheridan County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds in 2021.
How does Sheridan County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Oglala Lakota County, SD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Grant County, NE has the lowest (Very Low). Sheridan County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Sheridan County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Sheridan 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. Sheridan County's composite score of 13 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 13% of US counties.