Alliance Commercial Historic District · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0FEMA puts Alliance’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 87% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alliance gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #3 of 57 in Nebraska. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (39%), then hail (35%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Alliance faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hail
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Alliance’s grade
River and rain flooding is 39% of the building damage FEMA expects in Alliance, and Alliance’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 35%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A #3 of 57 in Nebraska; lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Alliance’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Nebraska town has higher expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Alliance has less expected damage per building than 96% of Nebraska towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Alliance: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Alliance flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Alliance. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Alliance isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Box Butte County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Alliance
Disasters that paid out in Alliance itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Alliance), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$164K to the City of Alliance for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$19K to the City of Alliance for repairs
Box Butte County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Alliance after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Alliance archive →Get ready for what Alliance faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Alliance
Is Alliance at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alliance has lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #3 of 57 in Nebraska. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (39%) and hail (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Alliance in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Box Butte County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Alliance?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Alliance’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Alliance?
By FEMA money that reached Alliance, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2021): $164K to the City of Alliance for repairs.
Is Alliance at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (39%), and Alliance’s rate for it is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Alliance.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Alliance’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.