Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Cedar County, NE

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
31027
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2030-08-11. Plan: Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783), approved 2025-08-12.

Since the plan was approved on 2025-08-12: no new hazard declaration and 16 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($3,586,531 a year), Drought ($1,553,269) and Hail ($1,391,524).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2030-08-11
Plan:
Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)
Approved:
2025-08-12
Days to expiry:
1,411

What changed since your last plan (approved 2025-08-12)

New federal declarations:
none
Storm Events records since approval:
16 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 21 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" on the following pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Cedar CountyCountyApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Belden villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Coleridge villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Fordyce villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Hartington cityCityApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Laurel cityCityApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Magnet villageVillageExpired on 2026-07-17Cedar - Dixon Counties (FEMA plan 107568)2021-07-172026-07-17-75this jurisdiction approved 2022-04-11
Obert villageVillageExpired on 2026-07-17Cedar - Dixon Counties (FEMA plan 107568)2021-07-172026-07-17-75FEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan. this jurisdiction approved 2022-04-11
Randolph cityCityApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
St. Helena villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Wynot villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Crofton Community SchoolsSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2028-10-24Tri County NRD HMP (FEMA plan 109360)2023-10-252028-10-24755
Hartington Newcastle Public SchoolsSchool/School DistrictExpired on 2026-07-17Cedar - Dixon Counties (FEMA plan 107568)2021-07-172026-07-17-75this jurisdiction approved 2022-07-05
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge SchoolSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Randolph Public SchoolsSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Wynot Public SchoolsSchool/School DistrictExpired on 2026-07-17Cedar - Dixon Counties (FEMA plan 107568)2021-07-172026-07-17-75
Coleridge Volunteer Fire DeptFire/EMS DistrictPlan 110783 approved 2025-08-12, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleLower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783), pending adoption here2025-08-12 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2030-08-11 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Hartington Fire DistrictFire/EMS DistrictExpired on 2026-07-17Cedar - Dixon Counties (FEMA plan 107568)2021-07-172026-07-17-75this jurisdiction approved 2022-07-05
Randolph Fire DeptFire/EMS DistrictApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02
Randolph Volunteer Fire DistrictFire/EMS DistrictExpired on 2026-07-17Cedar - Dixon Counties (FEMA plan 107568)2021-07-172026-07-17-75this jurisdiction approved 2022-04-25
Wynot Rural Fire DeptFire/EMS DistrictApproved, expires 2030-08-11Lower Elkhorn NRD (FEMA plan 110783)2025-08-122030-08-111,411this jurisdiction approved 2025-10-02

Plan 110783 lists 70 other participants not on this page, 8 of them not covered by it yet (named in the Excel file).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countWhy this hazard can be left outNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingVery LowVery Low$3,581,922$392$4,217$3,586,53123
2DroughtRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderaten/a$1,553,269n/a$1,553,26920
3HailRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$174,974$1,200,582$15,968$1,391,524173
4TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$835,075$19,187$319,566$1,173,82818
5Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$143,298$220,385$126,471$490,154121Includes 26 High Wind records (a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
6Cold WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$256$58,409$383,792$442,45860
7WildfireRelatively LowRelatively Low$222,251$509$6,413$229,1730No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
8Heat WaveVery LowRelatively Low$7,838$8$180,825$188,67112
9Ice StormRelatively LowRelatively Low$35,454n/a$67,617$103,0711
10Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$63,352$487$36,366$100,20594
11LightningVery LowVery Low$7,806n/a$64,650$72,4562
12EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$13,228n/a$1,330$14,558Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
13LandslideVery LowVery Low$71n/a$2,725$2,7950No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
HurricaneNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates hurricane Not Applicable for this county, and no counted federal declaration for this county names it (EM-3245-NE names it but is not counted as a local occurrence; see B1-d).No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 9771 (Very Low, 24.6); tract 9772 (Very Low, 22.3)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 9771 (Relatively Low, 95.1); tract 9772 (Relatively Low, 87.9)
Tornadotract 9771 (Very High, 97.5); tract 9772 (Very High, 96.2)
Wildfiretract 9771 (Relatively High, 96.4); tract 9772 (Relatively Moderate, 90.9)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9771 is Census Tract 9771). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill60 records, 1996 to 2026 (60 zone-level)1 day to 5 days (median 2 days); 51 with a recorded value5 consecutive days, 2024-01-12 to 2024-01-16, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)20 records, 1999 to 2026 (20 zone-level)22 days to 316 days (median 62 days); 5 with a recorded value316 days (about 10.4 months), 2012-07-17 to 2013-05-28, a run of 11 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)200 records, 1956 to 20260.75 in to 4.5 in (median 1 in); 200 with a recorded value4.5 in hail, 2012-05-27Hail, 1997-08-14, property not reported; $3,000,000 crops (1997 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hartington city (34 records), Coleridge village (31 records), Fordyce village (20 records), Laurel city (17 records), Wynot village (13 records), St. Helena village (12 records), Belden village (10 records), Randolph city (9 records), Magnet village (7 records), Obert village (5 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)12 records, 1999 to 2025 (12 zone-level)1 day to 12 days (median 3 days); 12 with a recorded value12 consecutive days, 1999-07-19 to 1999-07-30, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)1 record, 2007 (1 zone-level)No damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)23 records, 1996 to 2024 (3 zone-level)Flood, 1996-07-16, $1,000,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars); NWS zone NEZ012Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Coleridge village (5 records), Hartington city (4 records), Belden village (3 records), Wynot village (3 records), St. Helena village (2 records), Fordyce village (1 record), Laurel city (1 record). Zone-level records (3) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)2 records, 1996 to 1997Lightning, 1997-09-18, $75,000 property; crops not reported (1997 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hartington city (1 record), Laurel city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)26 records, 1996 to 2026 (26 zone-level)42 kt (48 mph) to 63 kt (72 mph) (median 50.5 kt (58 mph)); 26 with a recorded value63 kt (72 mph) estimated gust, High Wind, 2016-12-25; NWS zone NEZ012High Wind, 1996-01-17, $18,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1996 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)133 records, 1960 to 202550 kt (58 mph) to 70 kt (81 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 105 with a recorded value70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2022-05-12Thunderstorm Wind, 1997-09-18, $110,000 property; crops not reported (1997 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hartington city (25 records), Laurel city (13 records), Coleridge village (12 records), St. Helena village (12 records), Fordyce village (11 records), Wynot village (8 records), Magnet village (5 records), Randolph city (5 records), Belden village (2 records), Obert village (2 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)31 records, 1953 to 2022F/EF0 to F/EF4 (median F/EF1); 30 with a recorded valueF4 tornado, 2003-06-23, 13 mi within this county, 1,200 yd wide, $3,700,000 property; crops not reported (2003 dollars), 1 direct deathEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Coleridge village (7 records), Hartington city (5 records), Laurel city (3 records), Belden village (1 record), Magnet village (1 record), Obert village (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)94 records, 1996 to 2026 (94 zone-level)No damage reported in 94 records.Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 16 declarations covering 13 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2022-07-272022-05-12DR-4662-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms and Straight-Line WindsStrong Wind$927,315.45within last 5 years
2020-04-042020-01-20DR-4521-NEMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$4,938
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3483-NEEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4521
2019-03-212019-03-09DR-4420-NEMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Winter Weather$990,058.63
2018-08-272018-06-17DR-4387-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$211,962.54
2014-07-242014-06-14DR-4183-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$667,438.32
2011-06-182011-06-17EM-3323-NEEmergencyFloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
2010-02-252009-12-22DR-1878-NEMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms and SnowstormWinter Weather$51,622.20
2007-01-072006-12-19DR-1674-NEMajor disasterSevere Winter StormsWinter Weather$322,412.76
2005-09-132005-08-29EM-3245-NEEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacueesHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2003-07-212003-06-09DR-1480-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms and TornadoesTornado$145,909.92
1984-07-031984-06-11DR-716-NEMajor disasterTornadoes & FloodingTornado (primary); also designated: Inland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1975-05-071975-05-07DR-467-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms & TornadoesTornadono Public Assistance recorded
1971-07-071971-07-07DR-308-NEMajor disasterFloodsInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1971-02-231971-02-23DR-303-NEMajor disasterFloodsInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1967-07-181967-07-18DR-228-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1964-07-201964-07-20DR-174-NEMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1963-07-171963-07-17DR-156-NEMajor disasterHeavy Rains & FloodingInland Flooding
1962-09-051962-09-05DR-134-NEMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1962-05-101962-05-10DR-131-NEMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1960-04-041960-04-04DR-98-NEMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 4 rows, $1,772,470.65

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4375-NE2018-06-29Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsCedar Knox Public Power District$25,571.45
DR-1924-NE2010-07-15Severe Storms and FloodingCedar Knox Public Power District$1,365,465.59
DR-1706-NE2007-06-06Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesCedar Knox Public Power District$44,750.53
DR-1627-NE2006-01-26Severe Winter StormCedar Knox Public Power District$336,683.08

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Public Assistance not placed in any Nebraska county: 7 rows, $3,747,676.55; listed on the Nebraska state page.

Source: 3

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave60125001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought20516001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail2004515001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave12034001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding23002801996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning2000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind1594531401955 to 2026-06-30Includes 26 High Wind records.
Tornado31001501950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather942115301996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2024-01-12Extreme Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone NEZ012 (CEDAR), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2022-05-12Thunderstorm Wind70 kt (81 mph) estimated gustdamage not reported0, 0HARTINGTONwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2016-12-25High Wind63 kt (72 mph) estimated gust$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2016 dollars)0, 0NWS zone NEZ012 (CEDAR), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2012-07-17Drought$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone NEZ012 (CEDAR), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2012-05-27Hail4.5 indamage not reported0, 0COLERIDGEB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2003-06-23TornadoF4, 13 mi within this county, 1,200 yd wide$3,700,000 property; crops not reported (2003 dollars)1, 0COLERIDGEdeaths or injuries recorded
1999-07-19Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone NEZ012 (CEDAR), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
1998-05-28TornadoF2, 8 mi within this county, 250 yd widedamage not reported0, 1COLERIDGE to HARTINGTONdeaths or injuries recorded
1997-09-18Lightning$75,000 property; crops not reported (1997 dollars)0, 0HARTINGTONB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
1997-08-14Hail2.75 inproperty not reported; $3,000,000 crops (1997 dollars)0, 0HARTINGTONB1-c most damaging: Hail
1996-07-16Flood$1,000,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1996 dollars)0, 0NWS zone NEZ012 (CEDAR), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1953-06-07TornadoF2, 18.9 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide$25,000 property; crops not recorded (1953 dollars)0, 4location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (602 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave6.74event-days per yearabout 6.74 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 23 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (76.7%)1282005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought35.2event-days per yearabout 35.2 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)1,1762000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00052annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.052%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail6events per yearabout 6 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)228.0 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave4.95event-days per yearabout 4.95 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 8 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (26.7%)832005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricaneevents per year1851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Ice Storm0.952event-days per yearabout 0.952 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)641946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.643event-days per yearabout 0.643 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 12 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (40%)181996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.194events per year (modeled)about 1 in 5 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning40.2days per year with a strikeabout 40.2 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind3.46events per yearabout 3.46 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1321986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.574events per yearabout 0.57 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.00136annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.136%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather15.8event-days per yearabout 15.8 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 29 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (96.7%)3002005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202585302.83
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 202512300.4
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202590303
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20254300.133
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202513300.433
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20254300.133
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20251300.0333
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave2 of 283.785.186.5Relatively High 2
Drought2 of 298.899.199.4Relatively High 2
Earthquake2 of 222.323.424.6Very Low 2
Hail2 of 299.299.599.7Very High 2
Heat Wave2 of 277.178.279.3Relatively Moderate 2
Hurricane0 of 2Not Applicable 2
Ice Storm2 of 293.693.994.2Relatively High 2
Inland Flooding2 of 290.392.695.0Relatively High 2
Landslide2 of 287.991.595.1Relatively Low 2
Lightning2 of 284.885.886.8Relatively High 2
Strong Wind2 of 297.598.198.7Very High 2
Tornado2 of 296.296.997.5Very High 2
Wildfire2 of 290.993.696.4Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 1
Winter Weather2 of 298.198.498.6Very High 2

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Hail: Agriculture is 86% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

This county has 2 census tracts; the minimum, median and maximum come from those 2.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Cedar CountyCountyApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$2,166,883.280 total; 0 since its planIncludes $4,938 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4521-NE).
Belden villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded16 total; 1 since its plan
Coleridge villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$109,722.4555 total; 0 since its plan
Fordyce villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded32 total; 2 since its plan
Hartington cityCityApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded69 total; 0 since its plan
Laurel cityCityApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$388,624.6335 total; 0 since its plan
Magnet villageVillageExpired on 2026-07-17FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$9,815.4813 total; 1 since its plan
Obert villageVillageExpired on 2026-07-17FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded8 total; 1 since its plan
Randolph cityCityApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$37,034.7214 total; 0 since its plan
St. Helena villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded26 total; 0 since its plan
Wynot villageVillageApproved, expires 2030-08-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$1,264.9724 total; 0 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2025-08-12county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$3,323,120,130$544,656,0988,361$256$58,409$383,792under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$152,370,847n/an/a$1,553,269n/a1.02% (agriculture)$0NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$5,555,457,589n/a8,380$13,228n/a$1,3300.000238%
Hail$3,323,120,130$544,656,0988,361$174,974$1,200,582$15,9680.00527%$0
Heat Wave$3,323,120,130$544,656,0988,361$7,838$8$180,8250.000236%
HurricaneNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Ice Storm$3,323,120,130n/a8,361$35,454n/a$67,6170.00107%
Inland Flooding$3,322,750,293$4,255,599487$3,581,922$392$4,217n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$23,118,355n/a58$71n/a$2,7250.000305%
Lightning$3,323,120,130n/a8,361$7,806n/a$64,6500.000235%
Strong Wind$3,323,120,130$544,656,0988,361$143,298$220,385$126,4710.00431%$0
Tornado$3,323,120,130$544,656,0988,361$835,075$19,187$319,5660.0251%
Wildfire$551,346,669$113,804,0981,922$222,251$509$6,4130.0403%
Winter Weather$3,323,120,130$544,656,0988,361$63,352$487$36,3660.00191%$0

Totals since 2025-08-12 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 4 county-coded records, 4 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0; 12 zone-level records, 12 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: no counted declaration since the plan.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population8,361
Building value (total, not at risk)$3,323,120,130
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$544,656,098
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$8,138,752
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$1,209,940
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingRelatively Moderate
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0000000
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0020200

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Cedar County3104210000000
Belden village3105350000000
Coleridge village3105360000000
Fordyce village3105370000000
Hartington city3103760000000
Laurel city3103850000000
Magnet village3105380000000
Obert village3105390000000
Randolph city3103970000000
St. Helena village3105400000000
Wynot village3103370000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group: 0 in every occupancy group.

Sources: 1, 4

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 0 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Cedar County, NE: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 31027). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/ne/31027/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org