Nemaha County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20131 · population 10,273 · 717 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 650 records for Nemaha County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 371 days; the most frequent are hail reports (245 records). The most damaging was the May 6, 1993 tornado ($10.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1967, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on September 1, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 650on 371 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $24Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 39strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Nemaha County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 245 since 1955. 55% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Kansas's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 245 | 121 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 96 of 105 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 191 | 112 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 62 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 74 | 74 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $37K | 26 of 105 |
| Floods | 40 | 27 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $798K | 49 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 39 | 25 | 1952-2026 | 0 | 3 | $20M | 78 of 105 |
| Heat | 17 | 17 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 12 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $13K | 78 of 105 |
| Drought | 10 | 10 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 105 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 9 | 9 | 2003-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 105 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1998-2001 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 31 of 105 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Nemaha County had?
NOAA records 39 tornadoes in Nemaha County from 1952 to 2026, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 43 tornadoes whose track touched Nemaha County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 39: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Nemaha County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-11 22:46, as SPC files it | Soldier | EF2 | 17.28 mi | 2 |
| 2019-05-21 18:20, as SPC files it | Bern | EF3 | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| 2014-06-03 21:30, as SPC files it | Bern | EF3 | 6.33 mi | 0 |
| 2013-05-28 15:16, as SPC files it | Centralia to Corning | EF3 | 4.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Nemaha County (39)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | Berwick, Nemaha County | EF1 3.93 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-24 | St Benedict, Nemaha County | EF1 5.94 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-21 | Bern, Nemaha County | EF3 5.9 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-21 | Oneida, Nemaha County | EF0 3.05 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-03 | Bern, Nemaha County | EF3 6.33 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2013-05-28 | Corning, Nemaha County | EF1 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-28 | Corning, Nemaha County | EF1 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-28 | Centralia, Nemaha County | EF3 4.4 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-07-28 | Centralia, Nemaha County | EF0 0.04 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-03-23 | Oneida, Nemaha County | EF1 10.97 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-11 | Bancroft, Nemaha County | EF1 2.98 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-05-26 | Baileyville, Nemaha County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-30 | Sabetha, Nemaha County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $293K |
| 2005-04-21 | Corning, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-04-25 | Seneca, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-04-25 | Goff, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-05 | Seneca, Nemaha County | F1 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $620K |
| 1999-04-05 | Seneca, Nemaha County | F1 1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 1 | $177K |
| 1998-06-20 | Seneca, Nemaha County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-20 | Seneca, Nemaha County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Sabetha, Nemaha County | F2 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6.3M |
| 1998-06-13 | Bern, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Sabetha, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Sabetha, Nemaha County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Berwick, Nemaha County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Berwick, Nemaha County | F0 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Bern, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Bern, Nemaha County | F1 4 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | St Benedict, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-27 | Seneca, Nemaha County | F1 1.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 1997-07-01 | Woodlawn, Nemaha County | F1 2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 1996-07-20 | Centralia, Nemaha County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-09 | Baileyville, Nemaha County | F1 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $226K |
| 1993-05-06 | Centralia, Nemaha County | F2 23 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 1975-12-13 | Nemaha County | F1 16.8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1964-06-22 | Nemaha County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1961-07-20 | Nemaha County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1960-06-01 | Nemaha County | F0 3.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1952-11-17 | Nemaha County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Nemaha County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 11, 2026 flood ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindWoodlawn, Nemaha County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindCorning, Nemaha County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | TornadoBerwick, Nemaha County | EF1 3.93 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindBaileyville, Nemaha County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindCentralia, Nemaha County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | HailBaileyville, Nemaha County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-11 | FloodSeneca, Nemaha County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-04-11 | Flash FloodCentralia, Nemaha County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2026-04-11 | Flash FloodCentralia, Nemaha County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2026-03-05 | HailCorning, Nemaha County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-25 | FloodCentralia, Nemaha County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindSabetha, Nemaha County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-03 | TornadoBern, Nemaha County A tornado touched down around the intersection of highway 71 and 63 around 1030 pm CDT. The damage path moved southeast and included several homes that were severely damaged and one totally destroyed. The worst damage occurred to a slab home anchored to the foundation by anchor bolts installed with nuts and washers ... | EF3 6.33 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1999-04-05 | TornadoSeneca, Nemaha County A small tornado struck near Seneca and damaged a few farm homes and out buildings. One person was injured. | F1 1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 1 | $177K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-05-06 | TornadoCentralia, Nemaha County | F2 23 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 1998-06-13 | TornadoSabetha, Nemaha County | F2 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6.3M |
| 1997-07-01 | HailWoodlawn, Nemaha County | 4.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
| 1999-04-05 | TornadoSeneca, Nemaha County | F1 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $620K |
| 2006-03-30 | TornadoSabetha, Nemaha County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $293K |
| 1996-05-09 | TornadoBaileyville, Nemaha County | F1 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $226K |
| 1999-04-05 | TornadoSeneca, Nemaha County | F1 1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 1 | $177K |
| 1996-05-09 | Thunderstorm WindSeneca, Nemaha County | 0 | 0 | $151K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: December 13, 1975 (tornado, Nemaha County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Nemaha County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 47 | 100 | 63 | 11 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 69 | 42 | 40 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 47 | 10 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 26 · Feb 23 · Mar 36 · Apr 59 · May 106 · Jun 163 · Jul 81 · Aug 61 · Sep 40 · Oct 11 · Nov 16 · Dec 28 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Nemaha County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Nemaha County: 14 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | DR-4940 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2022-02-17 | DR-4640 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight Line Winds |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4504 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3481 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-06-20 | DR-4449 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,and Mudslides |
| 2015-07-20 | DR-4230 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-03-09 | DR-1885 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2008-02-01 | DR-1741 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3282 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-05-06 | DR-1699 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3236 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1993-07-22 | DR-1000 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1984-06-22 | DR-714 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1977-09-20 | DR-539 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-09-28 | DR-403 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1973-05-02 | DR-378 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1967-07-18 | DR-229 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Nemaha County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 40 flood or flash flood records for Nemaha County from 1997 to 2026, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Nemaha County ranks 2636th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $53,000 on 4 claims filed in Nemaha County; the most in one year was 2 in 2026. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2026: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Nemaha County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Nemaha County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $171K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $702K | once in about 400 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $2.1M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $107K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $401K | 8.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $233K | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $495K | 11 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $397K | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Nemaha County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in KansasEvery Kansas tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in KansasThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Kansas recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Nemaha CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Nemaha County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis