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Neosho County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
40th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$12Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Neosho County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $750 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (58 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 100 claims here, including $1.1 million 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 Neosho County

$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$2.4 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.
$931,240 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 floodingLow39.9
$6M
TornadoLow64.6
$2M
Cold waveLow46.1
$931K
Strong windModerate58.3
$793K
Heat waveLow59.0
$632K
DroughtModerate69.9
$595K
HailLow49.2
$289K
Ice stormModerate71.1
$266K
LightningLow43.2
$210K
EarthquakeVery Low41.0
$185K
Winter weatherModerate66.7
$132K
HurricaneVery Low24.3
$10K
WildfireVery Low21.1
$9K
LandslideVery Low25.4
$225

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood2
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jul 15, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
May 28, 2019Tornadoes and FloodingEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2017Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 23, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 3, 2000Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 5, 1998Ks-Flooding 10/31/98Major disaster
Oct 22, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1976Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe 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 547 storm reports in Neosho County since 1954, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $22.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 21, 2005 near Galesburg.

29tornadoes
190hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
247damaging thunderstorm winds
49floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 21, 2005F3Galesburg0 / 0
Apr 19, 2000F2Erie3 / 0
May 11, 1973F2–0 / 0
Mar 8, 1973F2–1 / 0
Mar 8, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 1, 2007Flash FloodChanute$12M
Apr 19, 2000TornadoErie$2M
Jun 29, 1998Thunderstorm WindErie$1M
Jun 30, 2005Thunderstorm WindChanute$1M
Apr 12, 1993HailShaw$505K
Jun 30, 2005Thunderstorm WindErie$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Neosho County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (58 policies)
13.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 100 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $1.1 million 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 Neosho County

$111,300median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.9%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; 7,219 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
Labette CountyLow13
Bourbon CountyVery Low16
Allen CountyVery Low12
Wilson CountyVery Low15
Woodson CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Neosho County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Neosho County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Neosho County, about $5.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Neosho County had?

Neosho County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2024.

Is Neosho County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 40th 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 Neosho County?

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

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Neosho County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 21, 2005 near Galesburg. The weather service has also logged 190 hail reports and 49 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.