Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY 2.0For tornadoes, Omaha’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Omaha gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #27 of 57 in Nebraska. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%), then tornadoes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 188 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Omaha’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Omaha 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 Omaha’s grade
River and rain flooding is 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Omaha, and Omaha’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 22%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #27 of 57 in Nebraska; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Omaha’s residents live in 156 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, Omaha has less expected damage per building than 54% of Nebraska towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Omaha has higher expected damage per building than 52% (#207 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $191M, is the 45th largest of those 400.
Does Omaha flood? Yes: 188 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Omaha, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding39 claims · $3.5M
- The Late spring storms13 claims · $555K
- The Midwest Flooding5 claims · $23K
Omaha is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Douglas County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Omaha
Disasters that paid out in Omaha itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Omaha), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes334 households applied for aid$386K aid approved11 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding351 households applied for aid$207K aid approved42 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Flooding120 households applied for aid$100K aid approved$1.4M to the City of Omaha for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$37K to the City of Omaha for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm$728K to the City of Omaha for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding733 households applied for aid$107K aid approved$965K to the City of Omaha for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding448 households applied for aid$491K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms and Tornadoes$178K to the City of Omaha for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Severe Storms and Flooding$628K to the City of Omaha for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
Douglas County has had 26 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 Omaha after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Omaha archive →Omaha and its neighbors
Omaha is 3rd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralston | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bellevue | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Omaha | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Council Bluffs | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 436 |
| Carter Lake | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Omaha 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.
- Omaha residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Omaha
Is Omaha at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Omaha has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #27 of 57 in Nebraska. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%) and tornadoes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Omaha flood?
Flood insurance has paid 188 claims in Omaha since 1978, $6.1M in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 20 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2019 Midwest Flooding (39).
Is Omaha 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 Douglas County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Omaha?
Omaha is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Omaha?
By FEMA money that reached Omaha, Flooding (2011): 120 households applied for aid, $100K approved, and $1.4M to the City of Omaha for repairs. By flood claims, March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 39 paid, $3.5M.
Is Omaha at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Omaha’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Omaha.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Omaha’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.