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Osborne County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
51st of 105highest risk in Kansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Osborne County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,997 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No 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 Osborne County

Hail

High
$2.3 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 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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
$839,323 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 38 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh94.0
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low18.5
$2M
DroughtModerate79.6
$839K
Strong windModerate61.3
$698K
TornadoLow33.3
$572K
Cold waveVery Low18.3
$179K
Ice stormModerate65.6
$159K
Winter weatherLow49.4
$57K
LightningVery Low17.7
$55K
WildfireVery Low52.1
$48K
Heat waveVery Low10.3
$18K
EarthquakeVery Low13.5
$13K
LandslideVery Low12.8
$41

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood2
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2013SnowstormMajor 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
Show all 17
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe 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 581 storm reports in Osborne County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries and about $49.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 7, 1993 near Lucas.

48tornadoes
352hail reports, largest 3 inches
138damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 7, 1993F4Lucas0 / 0
Jun 4, 1955F4–0 / 0
May 13, 1968F3–0 / 0
May 5, 2007EF2Osborne11 / 0
May 28, 2019EF2Covert0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 9, 2005HailDowns$4M
Jun 2, 2011FloodPortis$4M
May 26, 2002Thunderstorm WindPortis$3M
Apr 25, 1990Tornado–$3M
May 16, 2021Flash FloodNatoma$2M
May 8, 2013HailOsborne$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 Osborne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$167,600paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $167,600 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 Osborne County

$86,400median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1952median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
87%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.7%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; 2,031 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
Ellis CountyVery Low13
Russell CountyVery Low21
Mitchell CountyVery Low12
Rooks CountyVery Low17
Smith CountyVery Low14
Lincoln CountyVery Low14
Jewell CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Osborne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Osborne County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Osborne County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Osborne County had?

Osborne County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Osborne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 51st 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 Osborne County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Osborne County had?

NOAA records list 48 tornadoes in Osborne County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 7, 1993 near Lucas. The weather service has also logged 352 hail reports and 19 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.