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Miami County, Kansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
25th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$18Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Miami County, Kansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $523 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding,landslides,and mudslides). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 27 claims here, including $582,000 for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Miami County

$8 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 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.9
$8M
TornadoModerate67.1
$3M
Strong windModerate76.8
$2M
Cold waveLow55.6
$2M
Heat waveLow73.4
$1M
HailModerate80.6
$1M
Ice stormModerate73.1
$343K
Winter weatherModerate84.0
$341K
LightningLow48.8
$296K
EarthquakeVery Low31.7
$118K
DroughtLow37.4
$69K
WildfireVery Low35.5
$26K
LandslideVery Low48.5
$2K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Tornado2
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor 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
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 14
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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 416 storm reports in Miami County since 1957, with 6 deaths and 31 injuries and about $24.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 20, 1957.

22tornadoes
187hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
166damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 20, 1957F5–20 / 4
Apr 15, 1960F3–2 / 0
May 15, 1968F3–0 / 0
May 11, 1978F2–1 / 0
Apr 4, 1969F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 1, 2007FloodStanton$17M
May 20, 1957Tornado–$3M
May 11, 1978Tornado–$3M
Apr 16, 1995HailLouisburg$750K
May 16, 1995TornadoBeagle To$500K
Aug 25, 2004LightningPaola$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 8, 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 Miami County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (40 policies)
19.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 27 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $581,848 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 Miami County

$287,700median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4%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; 14,262 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
Douglas CountyLow19
Cass County, MOLow19
Franklin CountyLow20
Bates County, MOVery Low21
Linn CountyVery Low17
Anderson CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Miami County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Miami County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Miami County, about $8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Miami County had?

Miami County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides in June 2019.

Is Miami County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Miami County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Miami 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 Miami County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Miami County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 20, 1957. The weather service has also logged 187 hail reports and 36 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.