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Ford County, Kansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
19th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$19Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ford County, Kansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 19th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and drought. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $544 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe winter storm). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $143,000 on 55 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ford County

$4.8 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.

Hail

High
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 67 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow37.5
$5M
HailHigh96.0
$4M
DroughtHigh95.8
$3M
TornadoModerate71.3
$3M
Cold waveLow63.8
$2M
Strong windModerate67.5
$995K
Ice stormModerate71.7
$265K
LightningLow49.2
$250K
WildfireLow68.0
$167K
Winter weatherModerate70.6
$146K
Heat waveVery Low27.4
$127K
EarthquakeVery Low30.1
$84K
LandslideVery Low11.6
$39

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Ford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Fire1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

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
Mar 6, 2017Ford County Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 24, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Show all 14
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,768 storm reports in Ford County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $27.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 4, 1955.

115tornadoes
981hail reports, largest 5 inches
530damaging thunderstorm winds
58floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 4, 1955F4–0 / 0
May 17, 2019EF3Bloom0 / 0
Sep 25, 1973F3–0 / 0
May 7, 2002F3Windthorst0 / 0
May 7, 2002F3Windthorst0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 1998HailDodge City$6M
Apr 30, 1993HailDodge City$5M
Jul 16, 2025Thunderstorm WindDodge City$5M
Jul 8, 2025HailHowell$3M
Sep 12, 1997Flash FloodDodge City$2M
Aug 19, 1993Thunderstorm WindBucklin$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 Ford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
8.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$142,660paid on 55 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $72,475 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 Ford County

$151,100median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.5%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; 12,743 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
Gray CountyVery Low12
Meade CountyVery Low13
Edwards CountyVery Low27
Kiowa CountyVery Low18
Clark CountyVery Low15
Hodgeman CountyVery Low23

Cities in Ford County

Common questions about Ford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ford County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Ford County had?

Ford County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in April 2024.

Is Ford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 19th 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 Ford County?

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

NOAA records list 115 tornadoes in Ford County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 4, 1955. The weather service has also logged 981 hail reports and 58 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.