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Leavenworth County, Kansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
11th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$34Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Leavenworth 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 11th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $421 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding,landslides,and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (130 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 208 claims here, including $940,000 for floods in 2005.

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

Top risks in Leavenworth County

$13 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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
$7.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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 floodingLow61.8
$13M
TornadoModerate86.5
$8M
Cold waveModerate77.0
$4M
Heat waveModerate88.8
$4M
Strong windHigh84.0
$2M
HailModerate86.3
$2M
Ice stormHigh87.1
$968K
Winter weatherHigh86.5
$416K
LightningModerate57.2
$409K
EarthquakeVery Low35.5
$154K
DroughtLow45.8
$144K
WildfireVery Low59.0
$106K
LandslideLow73.6
$11K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood5
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
May 28, 2019Tornadoes and FloodingEmergency
Sep 23, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor 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 21
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Nov 5, 1998Ks-Flooding 10/31/98Major disaster
Oct 14, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 20, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe 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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 766 storm reports in Leavenworth County since 1952, with 2 deaths and 28 injuries and about $49 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1966.

32tornadoes
323hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
320damaging thunderstorm winds
89floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1966F4–2 / 1
May 28, 2019EF4Linwood0 / 0
May 7, 1961F4–0 / 0
May 22, 1952F4–0 / 0
Apr 12, 1964F3–22 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 28, 2019TornadoLinwood$26M
May 4, 2003TornadoLinwood$4M
May 11, 2000TornadoTonganoxie$3M
Apr 12, 1964Tornado–$3M
May 7, 1961Tornado–$3M
Oct 4, 1998Flash FloodTonganoxie$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Leavenworth County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (130 policies)
25.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3 millionpaid on 208 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $940,035 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 Leavenworth County

$282,900median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.7%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; 31,865 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
Johnson CountyHigh10
Wyandotte CountyModerate24
Douglas CountyLow19
Platte County, MOLow24
Jefferson CountyVery Low17
Atchison CountyVery Low18

Cities in Leavenworth County

Common questions about Leavenworth County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Leavenworth County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Leavenworth County, about $13 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Leavenworth County had?

Leavenworth County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides in June 2019.

Is Leavenworth County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 11th 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 Leavenworth County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Leavenworth 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 Leavenworth County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Leavenworth County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1966. The weather service has also logged 323 hail reports and 89 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.