riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Hitchcock County Disaster Risk

Hitchcock County, Nebraska

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

7th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#68

of 93 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

6th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Hitchcock County

Risk Verdict

Hitchcock County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 7th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Hitchcock County, scoring in the 31th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 25th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (6th), earthquake (5th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Hitchcock County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Hitchcock County is notably safer than the average county in Nebraska. Its composite risk score is 19 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Hitchcock County, NE?
Hitchcock County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 7th 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 Hitchcock County?
Hitchcock County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (31th percentile), tornado (25th percentile), flooding (6th percentile), earthquake (5th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 31th 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 Hitchcock County risk compare to the Nebraska average?
Hitchcock County's composite risk percentile is 7th, compared to the Nebraska state average of 26th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Hitchcock County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Nebraska.
Is Hitchcock County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Hitchcock County's wildfire risk is at the 31th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Hitchcock County is at the 6th 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 Hitchcock County a safe place to live?
Hitchcock County's composite risk score of 7th 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 31th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Chase County

Nebraska

-0.2

Very Low

7th percentile

Kimball County

Nebraska

+0.7

Very Low

8th percentile

Dawes County

Nebraska

-1.3

Very Low

6th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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