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

Sherman County Disaster Risk

Sherman County, Nebraska

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

22th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#45

of 93 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

9th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% 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 6% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Sherman County, Nebraska

Sherman ranks well below national average

Sherman County's composite risk score of 22.39 places it in the "Very Low" category nationally, indicating substantially lower disaster exposure than average U.S. counties. The county faces manageable natural hazard risk overall.

Below-average risk within Nebraska

At 22.39, Sherman County performs better than Nebraska's state average of 25.80, positioning it as a lower-risk county statewide. This margin reflects relatively moderate exposure across most hazard categories.

Moderate risk in the region

Sherman's 22.39 sits between Stanton County (16.22) to the southeast and higher-risk counties like Thayer (38.39) to the south. The county faces more hazard exposure than ultra-low-risk Thomas County (0.16) but less than most neighboring areas.

Wildfire and tornado drive risk

Wildfire risk (67.46) and tornado risk (24.97) represent Sherman County's primary natural hazards, with wildfire significantly dominating. Flood risk (9.41) remains minimal, and earthquake exposure (6.49) poses negligible threat.

Get wildfire and tornado coverage

Sherman County residents should ensure homeowners policies include wildfire protection and verify tornado coverage is adequate. Consider a safe room or storm shelter given tornado exposure, and maintain property defensibility against fire risk.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Sherman County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    67th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    25th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    9th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Sherman County

Risk Verdict

Natural disaster exposure in Sherman County is lower than roughly three-quarters of U.S. counties, with a composite score at the 22th percentile. Residents of Sherman County can use the 22th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Sherman County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 67th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 25th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (9th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile).

Preparedness Context

At the 67th percentile nationally for wildfire, Sherman County residents should verify whether their insurance policy includes replacement cost coverage for structures and whether the insurer still writes new policies in this fire-risk zone. A secondary tornado exposure at the 25th percentile nationally means Sherman County residents face hazards from two distinct natural peril categories during different seasons. Local USFS or Cal Fire (where applicable) fire risk maps and seasonal Red Flag Warning alerts from the National Weather Service are two free resources Sherman County residents can use to stay ahead of rapidly changing wildfire conditions.

Regional Context

Sherman County's composite risk score is within 3.4 points of the Nebraska county average — a close alignment that reflects a broadly representative hazard environment for this part of the state.

Is your household prepared for Sherman 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 Sherman County, NE?
Sherman County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 22th 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 Sherman County?
Sherman County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (67th percentile), tornado (25th percentile), flooding (9th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 67th 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 Sherman County risk compare to the Nebraska average?
Sherman County's composite risk percentile is 22th, compared to the Nebraska state average of 26th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Sherman County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Nebraska.
Is Sherman County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Sherman County's wildfire risk is at the 67th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Sherman County is at the 9th 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 Sherman County a safe place to live?
Sherman County's composite risk score of 22th 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 67th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Nuckolls County

Nebraska

+0.1

Very Low

22th percentile

Cedar County

Nebraska

-0.7

Very Low

22th percentile

Nance County

Nebraska

-0.7

Very Low

22th 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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