Chase County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Chase County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 87th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,995 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $260,000 on 29 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Chase 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 20.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 30.7 | $594K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.4 | $470K | ||
| Hail | 57.7 | $391K | ||
| Strong wind | 28.9 | $315K | ||
| Lightning | 35.0 | $149K | ||
| Ice storm | 56.6 | $128K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.6 | $92K | ||
| Heat wave | 22.0 | $82K | ||
| Drought | 37.5 | $59K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.3 | $42K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.4 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 57.5 | $3K |
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 low 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 Chase County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 386 storm reports in Chase County since 1950, with 6 deaths and 13 injuries and about $6.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 18, 1950.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1950 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 30, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1987 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 1964 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 18, 1987 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 8, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Matfield Green | $380K |
| Aug 30, 2003 | Flash Flood | Gladstone | $250K |
| May 18, 1950 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 8, 2009 | Flood | Matfield Green | $130K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Chase 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 Chase 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; 1,388 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 27 | |
| Lyon County | 25 | |
| Marion County | 20 | |
| Greenwood County | 23 | |
| Morris County | 26 |
Common questions about Chase County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Chase County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chase County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $593,696.
How many federal disasters has Chase County had?
Chase County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2025.
Is Chase County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 87th 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 Chase County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Chase 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 Chase County had?
NOAA records list 47 tornadoes in Chase County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 18, 1950. The weather service has also logged 180 hail reports and 23 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.