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Mitchell County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
44th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$10Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Mitchell County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,776 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $154,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Mitchell County

Hail

High
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh95.9
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low21.2
$3M
Strong windModerate78.2
$1M
TornadoLow40.1
$923K
DroughtModerate70.1
$558K
Ice stormModerate80.3
$439K
Cold waveVery Low22.1
$279K
Heat waveVery Low31.7
$159K
LightningLow27.4
$105K
Winter weatherModerate60.8
$99K
EarthquakeVery Low16.3
$21K
WildfireVery Low33.3
$19K
LandslideVery Low7.6
$17

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 Mitchell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Tornado1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
May 24, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 12
Jul 22, 1993Severe 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 576 storm reports in Mitchell County since 1950, with 3 deaths and 23 injuries and about $79.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 15, 1992.

50tornadoes
299hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
180damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 15, 1992F4–0 / 0
Oct 29, 1956F3–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1992F3–0 / 0
Jun 9, 1967F2–5 / 0
Apr 24, 2008EF2Beloit Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 2, 2014HailBeloit$6M
Oct 2, 2014HailAsherville$6M
Oct 2, 2014Thunderstorm WindBeloit$6M
Oct 2, 2014Thunderstorm WindAsherville$6M
Jul 28, 2023HailSimpson$5M
Aug 10, 2021HailAsherville$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 19, 2025. 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 Mitchell County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$153,686paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $37,939 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 Mitchell County

$133,800median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
77%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.1%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; 3,116 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
Cloud CountyVery Low14
Ottawa CountyVery Low16
Osborne CountyVery Low17
Lincoln CountyVery Low14
Jewell CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Mitchell County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mitchell County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Mitchell County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Mitchell County had?

Mitchell County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Mitchell County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 44th 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 Mitchell County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Mitchell 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 Mitchell County had?

NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Mitchell County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 15, 1992. The weather service has also logged 299 hail reports and 18 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.