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Labette County, Kansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
12th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$18Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Labette County, Kansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $903 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2010 (severe winter storms and snowstorm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 100 claims here.

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

Top risks in Labette County

$8.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.4 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow68.7
$9M
TornadoModerate83.6
$3M
Cold waveModerate73.0
$2M
Strong windModerate81.3
$984K
DroughtModerate82.0
$744K
Ice stormHigh90.6
$724K
Heat waveLow71.9
$711K
HailLow71.0
$415K
EarthquakeVery Low56.3
$275K
LightningLow46.8
$148K
Winter weatherModerate79.7
$147K
HurricaneVery Low38.6
$20K
WildfireVery Low38.6
$17K
LandslideVery Low35.2
$330

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 high 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 Labette County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 3, 2000Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 13
Oct 22, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1976Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 608 storm reports in Labette County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 44 injuries and about $83.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on September 27, 1959.

43tornadoes
235hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
234damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 27, 1959F4–1 / 1
Apr 19, 2000F3Dennis27 / 0
Mar 15, 1982F3–0 / 0
May 31, 1958F3–0 / 0
Mar 15, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 19, 2000TornadoDennis$71M
Mar 15, 1982Tornado–$3M
Mar 15, 1982Tornado–$3M
May 4, 2003TornadoBartlett$3M
Jul 5, 2004Thunderstorm WindOswego$1M
Jul 1, 2007Flash FloodParsons$540K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 25, 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 Labette County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
10.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 100 flood claims since 1978
1986costliest year, with $440,299 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 Labette County

$94,600median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.6%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; 9,510 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
Crawford CountyLow22
Montgomery CountyLow13
Cherokee CountyLow26
Neosho CountyVery Low19
Craig County, OKLow29
Nowata County, OKVery Low30

Common questions about Labette County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Labette County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Labette County, about $8.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Labette County had?

Labette County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm in March 2010.

Is Labette County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 12th 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 Labette County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Labette 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 Labette County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Labette County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on September 27, 1959. The weather service has also logged 235 hail reports and 67 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.