Comanche County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 94.6 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 87.2 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 53.5 | $911K | ||
| Tornado | 29.3 | $414K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.8 | $402K | ||
| Hail | 58.7 | $305K | ||
| Strong wind | 23.9 | $187K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.4 | $32K | ||
| Ice storm | 30.2 | $28K | ||
| Earthquake | 13.7 | $12K | ||
| Lightning | 3.4 | $10K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.7 | $5K | ||
| Hurricane | 13.4 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 5.5 | $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
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 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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 1973 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2008 | EF3 | Buttermilk | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 2025 | EF3 | Coldwater | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 1950 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1996 | Hail | Protection | $3M |
| Sep 25, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 6, 1998 | Hail | Protection | $154K |
| May 8, 1998 | Strong Wind | Protection | $100K |
| Dec 25, 2016 | Tornado | Wilmore | $85K |
| Apr 30, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wilmore | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woods County, OK | 23 | |
| Barber County | 17 | |
| Harper County, OK | 17 | |
| Kiowa County | 18 | |
| Clark County | 15 |
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.