Elk County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Elk County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,697 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires). 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 Elk County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 17.8 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.7 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 38.0 | $552K | ||
| Strong wind | 29.0 | $202K | ||
| Cold wave | 22.5 | $189K | ||
| Hail | 45.6 | $157K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.3 | $98K | ||
| Drought | 45.8 | $77K | ||
| Ice storm | 51.4 | $64K | ||
| Lightning | 13.9 | $34K | ||
| Winter weather | 38.3 | $30K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.2 | $19K | ||
| Hurricane | 17.4 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 50.8 | $1K |
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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Elk County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 341 storm reports in Elk County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries and about $30.6 million 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 | – | 6 / 1 |
| Apr 2, 1956 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1991 | F3 | – | 2 / 1 |
| Nov 27, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1959 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2007 | Flash Flood | Howard | $27M |
| Apr 2, 1956 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 26, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 8, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 8, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Longton | $180K |
| Jun 14, 2001 | Lightning | Howard | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 26, 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 Elk 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 Elk 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; 1,491 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 27 | |
| Cowley County | 25 | |
| Montgomery County | 13 | |
| Wilson County | 15 | |
| Greenwood County | 23 | |
| Chautauqua County | 14 |
Common questions about Elk County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Elk County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Elk County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Elk County had?
Elk County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.
Is Elk County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th 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 Elk County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Elk 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 Elk County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Elk County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1956. The weather service has also logged 159 hail reports and 36 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.