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Edwards County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 105highest risk in Kansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 45homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Edwards County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,459 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1,669 on 10 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Edwards County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 66 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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
DroughtHigh93.4
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low10.5
$1M
Cold waveLow55.7
$1M
HailModerate84.4
$1M
TornadoVery Low24.7
$386K
Strong windLow28.4
$295K
WildfireVery Low52.5
$58K
Ice stormLow37.3
$50K
Heat waveVery Low12.0
$27K
EarthquakeVery Low15.1
$18K
LightningVery Low3.4
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low12.2
$11K
LandslideVery Low1.8
$2

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 Edwards County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm20
Flood3
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Snowstorm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 19, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 28, 2024Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Oct 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2022Severe Winter Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 27
Feb 24, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 580 storm reports in Edwards County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $8.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 4, 2007 near Trousdale.

53tornadoes
360hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
135damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 2007EF3Trousdale1 / 0
Mar 27, 2004F3Kinsley0 / 0
Jun 13, 1970F3–0 / 0
May 9, 1971F3–0 / 0
Sep 25, 1973F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 2, 1996Thunderstorm WindLewis$2M
Aug 2, 1996Thunderstorm WindKinsley$2M
May 4, 2007TornadoTrousdale$2M
Jun 15, 2009TornadoHodges$2M
Mar 27, 2004TornadoKinsley$530K
May 22, 1995HailKinsley$500K

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 Edwards County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (45 policies)
6.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,669paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
1995costliest year, with $1,108 paid

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 Edwards County

$70,900median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1948median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
86%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%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; 1,549 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
Pratt CountyLow17
Pawnee CountyVery Low27
Stafford CountyVery Low25
Kiowa CountyVery Low18
Hodgeman CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Edwards County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Edwards County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Edwards County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Edwards County had?

Edwards County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Edwards County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Edwards County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 45 homes in Edwards 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 Edwards County had?

NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Edwards County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 4, 2007 near Trousdale. The weather service has also logged 360 hail reports and 7 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.