Chautauqua County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Chautauqua County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,461 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires). No 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 Chautauqua County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 90.9 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 11.8 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 44.3 | $960K | ||
| Cold wave | 26.7 | $334K | ||
| Strong wind | 27.0 | $241K | ||
| Hail | 36.7 | $147K | ||
| Heat wave | 32.4 | $143K | ||
| Ice storm | 54.2 | $95K | ||
| Drought | 44.0 | $88K | ||
| Winter weather | 30.7 | $28K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.0 | $24K | ||
| Lightning | 7.4 | $22K | ||
| Landslide | 66.5 | $4K | ||
| Hurricane | 16.2 | $4K |
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 moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Chautauqua County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 477 storm reports in Chautauqua County since 1951 and about $901,550 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1956.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1956 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 1, 2014 | EF1 | Cedar Vale | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1957 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 11, 2007 | Flash Flood | Cedar Vale | $100K |
| May 31, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cedar Vale | $100K |
| Jul 1, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sedan | $50K |
| Jul 1, 2007 | Flash Flood | Sedan | $48K |
| Apr 2, 1956 | Tornado | – | $25K |
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 Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua 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; 1,975 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County, OK | 32 | |
| Osage County, OK | 41 | |
| Cowley County | 25 | |
| Montgomery County | 13 | |
| Elk County | 18 |
Common questions about Chautauqua County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Chautauqua County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Chautauqua County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Chautauqua County had?
Chautauqua County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.
Is Chautauqua County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Chautauqua County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Chautauqua County had?
NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Chautauqua County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1956. The weather service has also logged 205 hail reports and 34 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.