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FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Garfield County Disaster Risk

Garfield County, Nebraska

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

1th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#82

of 93 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

4th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 4% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 50% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Garfield County, Nebraska

Garfield County offers exceptional safety

Garfield County's composite risk score of 1.27 ranks among the safest in the entire nation and represents just 5% of Nebraska's state average of 25.80. This remote panhandle county faces negligible exposure to major natural disasters.

Nearly the safest county in Nebraska

Garfield ranks as one of the two or three safest counties in the entire state across all hazard categories. Its extremely low score reflects minimal flooding, tornado, and earthquake risk combined with manageable wildfire exposure.

Tied with Grant as Nebraska's safest zone

Garfield sits alongside Grant County (0.19)—essentially Nebraska's zero-risk zone—and benefits from the same stable panhandle geography. This entire northwestern pocket experiences remarkably low natural disaster frequency and intensity.

Wildfire presents minimal seasonal concern

Wildfire risk (50.03) is your only measurable hazard exposure, though it remains moderate at worst. Tornado (17.84), flood (4.20), and earthquake (4.99) risks are negligible.

Standard homeowner's coverage is sufficient

Garfield County residents can rely on basic homeowner's insurance without need for specialized flood or earthquake coverage. Maintaining defensible space around structures during wildfire season provides practical additional protection.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Garfield County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    50th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    18th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    5th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Garfield County

Risk Verdict

Garfield County carries a low natural disaster risk burden, scoring at the 1th percentile under the FEMA National Risk Index. The 1th percentile national ranking is one lens; Garfield County residents also benefit from reviewing which specific hazard types drive the county's composite score and preparing accordingly.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Garfield County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 50th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 18th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (5th percentile), flood (4th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Wildfire ranks as Garfield County's primary hazard at the 50th percentile nationally. For Garfield County households in high-WUI areas, go-bag readiness — the ability to leave within 15 minutes — is more important than shelter-in-place planning for most residential properties. Alongside wildfire, tornado at the 18th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Garfield County county's local emergency management office publishes community-specific wildfire risk assessments and evacuation zone maps; households should review their zone assignment and sign up for zone-specific alerts.

Regional Context

Compared to the Nebraska county average, Garfield County's composite score runs 24.5 points lower — a gap that reflects the county's relatively modest hazard profile within its state context.

Is your household prepared for Garfield County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Garfield County, NE?
Garfield County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 1th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Garfield County?
Garfield County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (50th percentile), tornado (18th percentile), earthquake (5th percentile), flooding (4th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 50th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Garfield County risk compare to the Nebraska average?
Garfield County's composite risk percentile is 1th, compared to the Nebraska state average of 26th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Garfield County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Nebraska.
Is Garfield County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Garfield County's wildfire risk is at the 50th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Garfield County is at the 4th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Garfield County a safe place to live?
Garfield County's composite risk score of 1th percentile is below the Nebraska state average of 26th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 50th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hayes County

Nebraska

-0.0

Very Low

1th percentile

Sioux County

Nebraska

+0.1

Very Low

1th percentile

Keya Paha County

Nebraska

+0.2

Very Low

1th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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