Hamilton County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hamilton County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 101st of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are drought, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $3.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,478 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 3 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 Hamilton 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 | 85.1 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 76.2 | $941K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.6 | $409K | ||
| Inland flooding | 1.4 | $378K | ||
| Tornado | 14.4 | $170K | ||
| Strong wind | 7.7 | $73K | ||
| Lightning | 16.3 | $73K | ||
| Winter weather | 22.2 | $26K | ||
| Wildfire | 27.5 | $16K | ||
| Ice storm | 12.6 | $9K | ||
| Earthquake | 6.6 | $8K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.8 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 1.0 | $1 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Hamilton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
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 623 storm reports in Hamilton County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $784,560 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 26, 1954.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 17, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 1966 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1963 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1954 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 19, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 18, 1993 | Hail | Syracuse | $100K |
| May 29, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Coolidge | $50K |
| May 16, 1999 | Hail | Coolidge | $30K |
| May 17, 1962 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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; 1,014 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prowers County, CO | 7 | |
| Grant County | 7 | |
| Kearny County | 9 | |
| Wichita County | 6 | |
| Stanton County | 10 | |
| Greeley County | 8 |
Common questions about Hamilton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hamilton County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Hamilton County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $940,843.
How many federal disasters has Hamilton County had?
Hamilton County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2024.
Is Hamilton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 101st 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 Hamilton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Hamilton County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 26, 1954. The weather service has also logged 396 hail reports and 8 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.