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Norton County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
56th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

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

Hail

Moderate
$1.8 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.
$1.1 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 74 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailModerate91.7
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low9.7
$1M
DroughtModerate84.4
$1M
TornadoLow47.8
$1M
Strong windModerate64.6
$728K
Cold waveLow26.3
$309K
Ice stormLow54.6
$92K
Winter weatherModerate62.2
$86K
Heat waveVery Low24.0
$78K
LightningVery Low21.9
$66K
WildfireVery Low31.3
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low9.6
$8K
LandslideVery Low19.6
$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

Severe Storm9
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2017Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 11
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency

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.

31tornadoes
359hail reports, largest 3 inches
229damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 20, 2011EF3Almena0 / 0
Jun 3, 1999F3Norton0 / 0
Jun 20, 2011EF3Densmore0 / 0
Jun 20, 2011EF2Edmond0 / 0
Jun 20, 2011EF2Calvert0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 20, 2011TornadoAlmena$10M
Jun 14, 2014Thunderstorm WindAlmena$2M
Jun 3, 1999TornadoNorton$1M
Jul 31, 2009HailNorton Muni Arpt$1M
Jun 20, 2011TornadoEdmond$1M
Jun 14, 2014Thunderstorm WindOronoque$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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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

$101,500median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
79%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.3%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; 2,450 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
Phillips CountyVery Low17
Furnas County, NELow14
Harlan County, NEVery Low12
Decatur CountyVery Low10
Sheridan CountyVery Low15
Graham CountyVery Low14

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.