Natural Disasters in Chester, NE

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

38.4

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

44.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

30.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

44.7

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hail97.1Strong Wind89.0Drought85.6
HazardRisk Score
Hail97.1
Strong Wind89.0
Drought85.6
Ice Storm63.7
Winter Weather60.1
Tornado49.3
Wildfire44.7
Lightning33.0
Heat Wave24.4
Earthquake10.7
Cold Wave8.8
Landslide6.4

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

23

Most Recent

Severe Storm

Oct 2025

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

10 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Oct 22, 2025Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
May 21, 2025Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Feb 23, 2022Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
Apr 4, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Mar 21, 2019FloodSEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Jun 25, 2015Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Feb 25, 2010Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORM
Dec 16, 2009Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Jun 20, 2008Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jan 11, 2008Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 13, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES
May 25, 2004Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING
Jul 21, 2003Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Nov 1, 1997Severe StormSEVERE SNOW STORMS, RAIN, AND STRONG WINDS
Jul 19, 1993FloodSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Aug 19, 1992FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jul 4, 1990Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Jul 3, 1984TornadoTORNADOES & FLOODING
Mar 24, 1978FloodSTORMS, ICE JAMS, SNOWMELT & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 23 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

6

Total IA Distributed

$22,345

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-15171N/A—
DR-45215$22,345—

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

25

Total Claims Paid

$325,837

Avg Claim Payout

$13,033

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$3,141,468

Disasters with PA

6

Total Projects

67

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4225Severe Storm(s)31$2,241,861
DR-1480Severe Storm(s)28$550,969
DR-4896Severe Storm(s)2$213,638
DR-1878Severe Storm(s)2$55,693
DR-4420Severe Storm(s)2$54,845
DR-4868Severe Storm(s)2$24,463

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

8

Federal Funding

$1,351,924

Properties Protected

2

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.50

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)2$3,931
400.1: Utility Protective Measures (Electric, Gas, etc.)2$1,132,498
601.1: Generators1$52,023
92.1: State Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$5,625
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE1$24,592

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Chester has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hail, strong wind, drought. The area has had 23 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (10 declarations). 25 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $3,141,468 in public assistance recovery funding. $22,345 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.