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Comanche County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
54th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Comanche County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,643 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 2 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 Comanche County

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 55 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 73 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$910,973 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
WildfireModerate94.6
$3M
DroughtModerate87.2
$1M
Cold waveLow53.5
$911K
TornadoLow29.3
$414K
Inland floodingVery Low2.8
$402K
HailLow58.7
$305K
Strong windLow23.9
$187K
Heat waveVery Low15.4
$32K
Ice stormLow30.2
$28K
EarthquakeVery Low13.7
$12K
LightningVery Low3.4
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low8.7
$5K
HurricaneVery Low13.4
$3K
LandslideVery Low5.5
$7

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 Comanche County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Severe Ice Storm2
Fire2
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Dec 19, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
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, 2017Comanche County FireFire management
Feb 24, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2016Anderson Creek FireFire management
Oct 22, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 20
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
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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 628 storm reports in Comanche County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $3.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 25, 1973.

46tornadoes
425hail reports, largest 4 inches
112damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 25, 1973F3–0 / 0
May 23, 2008EF3Buttermilk0 / 0
May 18, 2025EF3Coldwater0 / 0
Mar 13, 1973F2–0 / 0
May 24, 1950F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 23, 1996HailProtection$3M
Sep 25, 1973Tornado–$250K
May 6, 1998HailProtection$154K
May 8, 1998Strong WindProtection$100K
Dec 25, 2016TornadoWilmore$85K
Apr 30, 1993Thunderstorm WindWilmore$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Comanche County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 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 Comanche County

$69,600median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1947median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
84%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.9%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; 1,016 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
Woods County, OKVery Low23
Barber CountyVery Low17
Harper County, OKLow17
Kiowa CountyVery Low18
Clark CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Comanche County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Comanche County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Comanche County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Comanche County had?

Comanche County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in December 2025.

Is Comanche County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 54th 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 Comanche County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Comanche 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 Comanche County had?

NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Comanche County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 25, 1973. The weather service has also logged 425 hail reports and 19 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.