Gove County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Gove County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 98th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,554 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No 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 Gove County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 78.4 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.2 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 73.6 | $886K | ||
| Tornado | 24.3 | $479K | ||
| Strong wind | 24.0 | $311K | ||
| Cold wave | 15.5 | $222K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.9 | $53K | ||
| Wildfire | 39.2 | $35K | ||
| Heat wave | 11.0 | $29K | ||
| Lightning | 6.2 | $28K | ||
| Earthquake | 6.1 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 9.0 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 4.5 | $9 |
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 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 Gove County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
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 771 storm reports in Gove County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $11.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on May 23, 2008 near Quinter.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2008 | EF4 | Quinter | 2 / 0 |
| May 18, 2025 | EF3 | Campus | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 1950 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1979 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2008 | EF1 | Gove | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1995 | Hail | Grainfield | $3M |
| May 16, 1995 | Hail | Gove | $3M |
| May 23, 2008 | Tornado | Quinter | $3M |
| May 23, 2008 | Tornado | Quinter | $750K |
| Sep 17, 2001 | Hail | Park | $480K |
| Oct 12, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Campus | $285K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Gove 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 Gove 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; 1,331 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas County | 11 | |
| Scott County | 8 | |
| Trego County | 11 | |
| Logan County | 13 | |
| Ness County | 19 | |
| Sheridan County | 15 | |
| Graham County | 14 | |
| Lane County | 10 |
Common questions about Gove County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Gove County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Gove County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1 million.
How many federal disasters has Gove County had?
Gove County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Gove County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 98th 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 Gove County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Gove County had?
NOAA records list 62 tornadoes in Gove County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on May 23, 2008 near Quinter. The weather service has also logged 450 hail reports and 40 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.