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Clark County, Kansas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
93rd of 105highest risk in Kansas
$4Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clark County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 93rd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,180 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). 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 Clark County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 95 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Drought

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 79 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$530,594 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireLow87.9
$1M
DroughtModerate81.6
$1M
Cold waveLow32.0
$531K
TornadoLow26.2
$453K
HailLow54.9
$368K
Inland floodingVery Low1.5
$349K
Strong windLow18.3
$183K
Ice stormLow27.9
$33K
Heat waveVery Low10.9
$24K
Winter weatherVery Low18.5
$18K
LightningVery Low4.7
$18K
EarthquakeVery Low11.6
$13K
HurricaneVery Low15.4
$4K
LandslideVery Low5.9
$11

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Clark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Fire1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2022Severe Winter Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2017Clark County FireFire management
Feb 24, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 689 storm reports in Clark County since 1955 and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 23, 2008 near Clark State Lake.

41tornadoes
471hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
145damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 23, 2008EF3Clark State Lake0 / 0
Apr 9, 1994F2Ashland0 / 0
Jul 28, 1972F2–0 / 0
Jun 17, 1955F2–0 / 0
Apr 14, 1956F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 20, 1997HailMinneola$2M
May 6, 1998HailMinneola$170K
May 24, 1998HailMinneola$160K
Apr 9, 1994TornadoAshland$50K
Aug 10, 1996LightningAshland$50K
Jun 12, 2009HailMinneola$30K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 8, 2025. 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 Clark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Clark County

$87,600median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1946median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
82%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 1,039 housing units.

Compare in Kansas

All 105 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Johnson CountyHighInland flooding
Sedgwick CountyHighInland flooding
Shawnee CountyModerateInland flooding
Wyandotte CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyLowInland flooding
Leavenworth CountyLowInland flooding
Riley CountyLowInland flooding
Butler CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Ford CountyLow14
Beaver County, OKVery Low26
Meade CountyVery Low13
Harper County, OKLow17
Kiowa CountyVery Low18
Comanche CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 93rd 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 Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 23, 2008 near Clark State Lake. The weather service has also logged 471 hail reports and 8 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.