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Ellsworth County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
70th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ellsworth 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 70th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,114 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storm, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 17 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 Ellsworth County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$642,424 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
Inland floodingVery Low16.1
$2M
TornadoLow51.3
$2M
Cold waveLow35.8
$642K
HailLow69.1
$626K
Ice stormHigh82.2
$577K
Strong windLow41.8
$506K
WildfireLow77.4
$371K
DroughtLow54.1
$230K
Heat waveVery Low34.9
$207K
Winter weatherLow60.4
$107K
LightningVery Low8.7
$33K
EarthquakeVery Low14.3
$18K
LandslideVery Low10.4
$34

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 Ellsworth County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2024Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2017Ellsworth-Lincoln-Russell Fire ComplexFire management
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
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 17
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 699 storm reports in Ellsworth County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $14.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on April 14, 2012 near Kanapolis Res.

50tornadoes
386hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
211damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 14, 2012EF4Kanapolis Res0 / 0
May 24, 1990F3–0 / 0
May 24, 1990F3–0 / 0
Apr 2, 1956F3–0 / 0
Mar 2, 1970F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 2007Flash FloodEllsworth$5M
Mar 2, 1970Tornado–$3M
May 24, 1990Tornado–$3M
Jun 11, 2008HailEllsworth$649K
Jun 11, 2002HailWilson$500K
Jun 11, 2002Thunderstorm WindWilson$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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 Ellsworth County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
7.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$54,534paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $49,745 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 Ellsworth County

$114,900median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.6%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; 3,127 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
Saline CountyLow17
McPherson CountyVery Low17
Barton CountyLow26
Rice CountyVery Low24
Russell CountyVery Low21
Lincoln CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Ellsworth County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ellsworth County?

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

How many federal disasters has Ellsworth County had?

Ellsworth County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2024.

Is Ellsworth County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Ellsworth County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth County had?

NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Ellsworth County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on April 14, 2012 near Kanapolis Res. The weather service has also logged 386 hail reports and 33 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.