Natural hazards · Burwell

Burwell, NE natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Burwell comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Burwell?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Burwell to be higher than in 59% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding42%Tornadoes13%Hail11%Strong wind10%Cold waves7%Drought5%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Burwell faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Hail

11% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Drought

5% of expected damage

Recorded about 31 times a year in the area

Lower here

Ice stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Burwell flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Burwell.

Disasters that hit Burwell

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Burwell itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Burwell.

Brought FEMA money into BurwellDeclared for Garfield County only

2022

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$16K to the City of Burwell for repairs

2019

Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$20K to the City of Burwell for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds

$15K to the City of Burwell for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$1K to the City of Burwell for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$2K to the City of Burwell for repairs

2005

Severe Winter Storm

$5K to the City of Burwell for repairs

Garfield County has had 12 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Burwell is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Burwell’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Burwell. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.