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Jackson County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
50th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jackson County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $583 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 10 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 Jackson County

$3.2 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 310 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low27.0
$3M
WildfireModerate89.2
$1M
TornadoLow48.8
$1M
Heat waveLow56.9
$517K
Strong windLow41.0
$432K
Cold waveLow25.7
$341K
Ice stormModerate70.6
$231K
HailLow40.3
$182K
LightningLow39.3
$158K
Winter weatherModerate69.8
$130K
DroughtLow40.2
$67K
EarthquakeVery Low22.3
$35K
LandslideVery Low58.9
$3K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 15, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 18
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 22, 1984Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 20, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 462 storm reports in Jackson County since 1950, with 6 deaths and 19 injuries and about $9.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1962.

36tornadoes
248hail reports, largest 3 inches
143damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 6, 1962F4–3 / 0
May 31, 1978F3–1 / 3
May 5, 1950F3–12 / 0
Jun 11, 2008EF2Soldier0 / 2
Apr 26, 1984F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1978Tornado–$3M
Apr 26, 1984Tornado–$3M
Oct 2, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$700K
Sep 21, 1993HailEmmett$550K
May 6, 1993TornadoSoldier$550K
May 5, 1950Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 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 Jackson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
7.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$103,609paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $103,609 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 Jackson County

$207,300median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.5%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; 5,638 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
Shawnee CountyModerate15
Pottawatomie CountyVery Low18
Jefferson CountyVery Low17
Atchison CountyVery Low18
Nemaha CountyVery Low15
Brown CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Jackson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Jackson County had?

Jackson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Jackson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th 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 Jackson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Jackson 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 Jackson County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Jackson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1962. The weather service has also logged 248 hail reports and 30 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.