Anderson County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Anderson County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $645 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Anderson County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.2 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 40.7 | $668K | ||
| Drought | 76.0 | $549K | ||
| Strong wind | 56.7 | $495K | ||
| Cold wave | 39.5 | $486K | ||
| Heat wave | 53.2 | $326K | ||
| Hail | 56.1 | $249K | ||
| Lightning | 59.7 | $248K | ||
| Ice storm | 70.8 | $173K | ||
| Winter weather | 65.8 | $83K | ||
| Earthquake | 23.6 | $29K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.2 | $16K | ||
| Landslide | 41.8 | $559 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Anderson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 406 storm reports in Anderson County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 13 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 12, 1964.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1964 | F4 | – | 9 / 3 |
| Jul 20, 1956 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 1981 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2003 | F2 | Colony | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 1961 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 8, 2003 | Tornado | Colony | $1M |
| Jun 28, 2007 | Flood | Scipio | $1M |
| Jul 1, 2007 | Flood | Scipio | $500K |
| Nov 1, 1998 | Flash Flood | Garnett | $420K |
| Apr 12, 1964 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Anderson County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Anderson County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 3,586 housing units.
Compare in Kansas
All 105 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | Inland flooding | |
| Sedgwick County | Inland flooding | |
| Shawnee County | Inland flooding | |
| Wyandotte County | Inland flooding | |
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Leavenworth County | Inland flooding | |
| Riley County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Miami County | 14 | |
| Franklin County | 20 | |
| Bourbon County | 16 | |
| Allen County | 12 | |
| Linn County | 17 | |
| Coffey County | 17 | |
| Woodson County | 23 |
Common questions about Anderson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Anderson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anderson County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $668,280.
How many federal disasters has Anderson County had?
Anderson County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2024.
Is Anderson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th highest of 105 in Kansas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Anderson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Anderson County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Anderson County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Anderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 12, 1964. The weather service has also logged 175 hail reports and 72 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.