Cherry County, NE Environment & Hazard Risk

• WildfireRelatively Low$932K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 345 years
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$439K/yr expected annual loss, about 68 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$2,315/yr expected annual loss, about 4.3 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$75.3K/yr expected annual loss, about 18 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.8 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$198K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Low$28.9K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$339K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.9 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$28.9K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,464 years
• LightningVery Low$57.3K/yr expected annual loss, about 41 events a year
• Heat waveVery Low$50.2K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
• Strong windVery Low$56.5K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.7 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes in high-risk flood zones

0

• Hail872
• Thunderstorm Wind335
• Drought99
• Winter Storm92
• Tornado69
• High Wind61
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill49
• Blizzard29
• Funnel Cloud17
• Flash Flood15

• Drought07/01/2012

  Eastern Cherry

  $10.5M damage

  What happened

  Severe drought conditions (D2), which began in the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Precipitation for July totaled 0.08 inches for Valentine, which was 2nd driest on record and represents a departure form normal precipitation of below 3 inches. Lightning ignited a range fire that consumed around 6,000 acres of range land from July 20th through the 30th. Pastures make up about 88 percent of farm use in Cherry County (2007 Census USDA), where conditions by the end of July were rated 69% poor or very poor. Range land provided limited grazing capacity. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

• Winter Storm04/11/2001

  Cherry

  $10M damage

  What happened

  A powerful cyclone came out of southeast Colorado and through Kansas and eastern Nebraska. Wet snow of 4 to 8 inches accompanied by 40 to 50 mph wind and gusts to 60 mph took down numerous power poles and lines and damaged trees through a large part of north central, central, and southwest Nebraska. It also resulted in the closure of Interstate Highway 80 and many other highways for several hours.

• Wildfire07/16/2006

  Eastern Cherry

  $1.5M damage

• Wildfire03/12/2026

  Western Cherry

  $1.4M damage

  What happened

  Fire started approximately 9 miles south of Kilgore during the afternoon hours of March12th. West winds initially pushed the fire east. By evening, a cold front shifted the winds to the north, forcing the fire south. By the time the fire was totally contained on the 23rd, a total of 17,229 acres of rangeland was consumed. One primary residence was consumed in the fire, along with one cabin and three outbuildings. Approximately 10 head of livestock were lost in the fire.

• Wildfire07/20/2012

  Eastern Cherry

  $1M damage

  What happened

  Lightning ignited a wildfire in northwest Brown County north of Johnstown, along the Fairfield Creek, a tributary of the Niobrara River. The fire's initial 7 mile wide reach was fanned by strong winds to spread the fire north and jumped the Niobrara River into southwest Keya Paha County. The wildfire was named the Fairfield Creek and later renamed the Region 24 Complex as two more fires developed in eastern Keya Paha County. The fires burned a total of 75,872 acres that destroyed rangeland and timbers within Brown County, 14 homes and 17 associated outbuilding in Keya Papa County, and additional range and crop lands in eastern Cherry County and southeast Keya Paha County. Four injuries were reported, but not life threatening. As the wildfire spread north toward Highway 12, officials closed the highway and announced volunteer evacuations for Meadville and Norden that were rescinded on the 25th. The 26th the Niobrara River was closed downstream of Smith Falls State Park. The wildfire was reported 100 percent contained on the 30th, with a cost near $8,000,000.00.

• Lightning08/05/1996

  Wood Lake, Cherry County

  1 injured

  What happened

  LADY STANDING NEXT TO WINDOW IN HOUSE DAZED BY LIGHTNING STRIKE.

• Valentine, City ofServes 2,737 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Cody, Village ofServes 149 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Kilgore, Village ofServes 99 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Merriman, Village ofServes 87 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation
• Wood Lake, Village ofServes 70 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
• Crookston, Village ofServes 69 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations