Linn County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Linn County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $662 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 13 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 Linn County
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 22.9 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 38.9 | $963K | ||
| Strong wind | 45.4 | $569K | ||
| Hail | 56.0 | $393K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.0 | $363K | ||
| Heat wave | 45.6 | $357K | ||
| Winter weather | 57.9 | $101K | ||
| Earthquake | 29.6 | $86K | ||
| Drought | 40.9 | $85K | ||
| Ice storm | 45.8 | $83K | ||
| Lightning | 19.6 | $80K | ||
| Wildfire | 36.3 | $25K | ||
| Landslide | 58.1 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 11.0 | $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 very low and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Linn County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 283 storm reports in Linn County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $10.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on February 28, 2007 near Blue Mound.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 28, 2007 | EF4 | Blue Mound | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1969 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 1964 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2003 | F2 | Blue Mound | 0 / 0 |
| May 9, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2007 | Flood | La Cygne | $8M |
| Jul 1, 2007 | Flood | Boicourt | $1M |
| Feb 28, 2007 | Tornado | Blue Mound | $400K |
| Apr 4, 1969 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 23, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Feb 11, 1984 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 15, 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 Linn 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 Linn 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; 5,222 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Miami County | 14 | |
| Franklin County | 20 | |
| Vernon County, MO | 24 | |
| Bates County, MO | 21 | |
| Bourbon County | 16 | |
| Allen County | 12 | |
| Anderson County | 16 |
Common questions about Linn County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Linn County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Linn County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $963,366.
How many federal disasters has Linn County had?
Linn County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2024.
Is Linn County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Linn County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Linn 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 Linn County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Linn County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on February 28, 2007 near Blue Mound. The weather service has also logged 132 hail reports and 29 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.