Buffalo County anchored by Kearney in central Nebraska sits in the heart of the Great Platte River Road — the historic central migration corridor of American history. The Platte River creates flooding risk and the 2019 flooding caused significant damage across central Nebraska. The county sits in a high-frequency tornado zone and faces extreme blizzard risk. University of Nebraska Kearney creates institutional emergency planning requirements.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 6 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Blizzard |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 6 |
| Last Major Event | 2019 Flooding |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (308) 236-1230 |
| Emergency Shelters | 4 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-80 US-34 NE-10 NE-2 |
// County Profile
| County | Buffalo County NE |
| State | Nebraska (NE) |
| Population | 50 |
| Area | 968 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other Nebraska Counties
Franklin County NE
Tornado / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Pawnee County NE
Tornado / Missouri River Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Box Butte County NE
Tornado / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Hayes County NE
Tornado / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Seward County NE
Tornado / Missouri River Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Cuming County NE
Tornado / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate