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Phillips County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
28th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$10Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Phillips County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,936 per resident. Since 2004 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires). 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 Phillips County

Hail

High
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.9 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 44 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh97.2
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low20.0
$2M
DroughtHigh92.7
$2M
TornadoLow56.5
$1M
Strong windModerate75.1
$857K
Ice stormModerate75.9
$232K
Cold waveVery Low23.0
$215K
Heat waveVery Low29.8
$102K
Winter weatherModerate69.4
$97K
LightningLow31.4
$87K
WildfireVery Low58.3
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low18.5
$19K
LandslideVery Low21.2
$100

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 high 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 Phillips County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2022Severe Winter Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2013SnowstormMajor 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
Show all 17
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor 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 Phillips County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $61.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 10, 1985.

40tornadoes
328hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
183damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1985F4–0 / 0
May 10, 1985F4–1 / 0
Jun 26, 1952F2–0 / 0
Mar 14, 1983F1–0 / 0
Apr 11, 1991F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2000HailLong Is$3M
May 10, 1985Tornado–$3M
May 10, 1985Tornado–$3M
Jun 29, 2000HailLogan$2M
Jun 29, 2000Thunderstorm WindLong Is$2M
Jul 31, 2024HailPhillipsburg$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 9, 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 Phillips 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
$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 Phillips County

$96,500median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
83%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.4%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; 2,790 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
Norton CountyVery Low11
Rooks CountyVery Low17
Smith CountyVery Low14
Harlan County, NEVery Low12
Franklin County, NEVery Low8
Graham CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Phillips County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Phillips County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Phillips County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Phillips County had?

Phillips County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2004, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.

Is Phillips County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 28th 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 Phillips 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 Phillips County had?

NOAA records list 40 tornadoes in Phillips County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 10, 1985. The weather service has also logged 328 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.