Gray County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Gray County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,025 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 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 Gray County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 97.1 | $4M | ||
| Hail | 95.4 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 62.7 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 10.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 45.0 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 38.1 | $383K | ||
| Ice storm | 43.8 | $63K | ||
| Lightning | 17.8 | $60K | ||
| Earthquake | 20.8 | $30K | ||
| Wildfire | 39.1 | $24K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.3 | $14K | ||
| Heat wave | 7.2 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 4.8 | $7 |
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 Gray County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 856 storm reports in Gray County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $12.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 26, 1996 near Sublette.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1996 | F3 | Sublette | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1995 | F3 | 5 W Charleston | 3 / 0 |
| May 30, 1978 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 19, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1995 | F2 | 5 W Charleston | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1996 | Tornado | Sublette | $2M |
| May 15, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Charleston | $2M |
| Jun 12, 2009 | Hail | Cimarron | $2M |
| May 26, 1996 | Tornado | Cimarron | $850K |
| Jun 14, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Copeland | $750K |
| May 6, 1998 | Hail | Montezuma | $700K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 3, 2025. 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 Gray 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 Gray 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; 2,354 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Finney County | 9 | |
| Ford County | 14 | |
| Meade County | 13 | |
| Haskell County | 12 | |
| Hodgeman County | 23 |
Common questions about Gray County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Gray County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Gray County, about $3.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $3.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Gray County had?
Gray County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.
Is Gray County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 34th 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 Gray County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Gray 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 Gray County had?
NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Gray County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 26, 1996 near Sublette. The weather service has also logged 478 hail reports and 13 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.