Omaha and Douglas County: A Storm Record Worth Knowing

Douglas County in numbers

The counts are from NOAA's Storm Events Database. The six tornadoes include one rated EF4 and one rated EF3.

Hail over the city

• August 18, 2011. Hail up to softball size fell across northern and eastern Omaha, reaching 3 inches in the Florence area, with some softball-size stones toward Eppley Airfield. At 4.25 inches, it is the largest Douglas County hail in the database from 2000 through 2025.
• June 29, 2017. A storm spotter reported several stones about 2 inches across and one of 3.75 inches, the largest in the county's 2016-2025 record.
• June 12, 2024. A swath of hail ran across eastern Douglas County, with stones from 1 to 3 inches along its length.
• April 2001. Two hailstorms, on April 10 and April 30, carry the largest damage estimates in the county's 2000-2025 record, $300 million and $200 million.

Wind and tornadoes

• June 27, 2008. A bow echo cut a damage path 5 to 7 miles wide through the county; an NWS survey estimated winds of at least 70 mph and in places 100 to 115 mph, with a $53 million estimate. FEMA declared DR-1779 for Dodge, Douglas and Sarpy counties.
• June 16, 2017. An anemometer at 173rd and F streets measured a 104 mph gust.
• April 26, 2024. A tornado that developed near 255th Street in western Douglas County crossed farm fields and went on to do EF4 damage; FEMA's DR-4778 covers Douglas and Washington counties.
• July 31, 2024. A line of intense storms swept the entire county, with a 76 mph gust measured at the Omaha National Weather Service office and a $35 million estimate; Douglas County is in DR-4838.
• April 17, 2025. An EF3 tornado formed near Highway 133 and moved east, destroying a garage near 108th Street and hitting a home and large garage near 84th Street.

Omaha permits and city licenses

For residential roofing, the Omaha Planning Department's permit types include a Re-Roof permit and a separate Roof Repair permit. Applications go through the city's Omaha Permits Portal, according to its how-to page, which also offers instructions for scheduling a roof inspection with photos.

On the licensing page, the city lists building contractor license classes A through E. Classes A, B and C require an exam, Class E does not, and building contractors must show proof of nine contact hours of continuing education. If a roofer says it holds a City of Omaha license, ask for the class and check it with the city's license search.

The Nebraska rules on your contract

Look the company up in NDOL's contractor registration search before you sign. On an insurance-paid job, Nebraska's cancellation statute lets the contractor keep only the reasonable value of work you agreed in writing was needed to prevent damage to the house, and any contract fee that is not for goods or services cannot be enforced against you after you cancel. A contract is void if the contractor breaks any part of the act. The homepage sets out the full cancellation window.

Omaha roofers on the National Roofing Directory

Companies listed in Omaha and Elkhorn appear below. NRD's city pages for roofers in Omaha and roofers in Elkhorn have the complete lists.

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest hail recorded in Omaha?

NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 4.25-inch hail in Omaha on August 18, 2011 as the largest in Douglas County from 2000 through 2025. The largest stone in the county's 2016-2025 record is 3.75 inches, on June 29, 2017.

Were the 2024 Omaha tornadoes declared a federal disaster?

Yes. FEMA's DR-4778 covers Douglas and Washington counties for severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes beginning April 25, 2024, and DR-4838 covers Douglas County for the storms that began July 31, 2024.

How do I check a contractor's City of Omaha license?

The Planning Department's licensing page links a city license search and lists the building contractor license classes, A through E. Ask the roofer which class it holds and confirm it there.