More hazard damage per building is expected in Chalco than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chalco gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #31 of 57 in Nebraska. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then tornadoes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1984.
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 Chalco 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
Tornadoes
Hail
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 Chalco’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chalco, and Chalco’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 22%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #31 of 57 in Nebraska; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chalco’s residents live in 3 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, Chalco has more expected damage per building than 54% of Nebraska towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Chalco: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chalco flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chalco, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Chalco isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sarpy County.The storms Chalco remembers
None of the 22 disasters declared for Sarpy County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Chalco itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20142 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19841 flood claims paidThe year of Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Sarpy County
Sarpy County has had 22 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 Chalco after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chalco archive →Chalco and its neighbors
Chalco is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Chalco 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Chalco
Is Chalco at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chalco has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #31 of 57 in Nebraska. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and tornadoes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chalco flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Chalco since 1984, $12K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Chalco 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 Sarpy County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chalco?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chalco’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Chalco at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Chalco’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chalco.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chalco’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.