Norton County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Norton County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $6.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,163 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires). Only 6 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 Norton County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 91.7 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 9.7 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 84.4 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 47.8 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 64.6 | $728K | ||
| Cold wave | 26.3 | $309K | ||
| Ice storm | 54.6 | $92K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.2 | $86K | ||
| Heat wave | 24.0 | $78K | ||
| Lightning | 21.9 | $66K | ||
| Wildfire | 31.3 | $13K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.6 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 19.6 | $97 |
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 moderate 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 Norton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
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 637 storm reports in Norton County since 1952, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $18.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 20, 2011 near Almena.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2011 | EF3 | Almena | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1999 | F3 | Norton | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2011 | EF3 | Densmore | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2011 | EF2 | Edmond | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2011 | EF2 | Calvert | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2011 | Tornado | Almena | $10M |
| Jun 14, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Almena | $2M |
| Jun 3, 1999 | Tornado | Norton | $1M |
| Jul 31, 2009 | Hail | Norton Muni Arpt | $1M |
| Jun 20, 2011 | Tornado | Edmond | $1M |
| Jun 14, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oronoque | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 Norton 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 Norton 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; 2,450 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phillips County | 17 | |
| Furnas County, NE | 14 | |
| Harlan County, NE | 12 | |
| Decatur County | 10 | |
| Sheridan County | 15 | |
| Graham County | 14 |
Common questions about Norton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Norton County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Norton County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Norton County had?
Norton County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.
Is Norton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 56th 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 Norton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Norton 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 Norton County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Norton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 20, 2011 near Almena. The weather service has also logged 359 hail reports and 15 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.