Pottawatomie County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Pottawatomie County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $622 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 18 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (85 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $367,000 on 72 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Pottawatomie County
- 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.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 34.0 | $6M | ||
| Tornado | 57.5 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 90.7 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 86.5 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 38.5 | $976K | ||
| Heat wave | 56.1 | $774K | ||
| Strong wind | 45.2 | $748K | ||
| Hail | 58.5 | $566K | ||
| Winter weather | 76.4 | $275K | ||
| Lightning | 36.2 | $218K | ||
| Earthquake | 21.3 | $50K | ||
| Drought | 25.9 | $22K | ||
| Landslide | 77.3 | $19K |
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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Pottawatomie County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 751 storm reports in Pottawatomie County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $9.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1978.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1978 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 18, 1979 | F2 | – | 5 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 2008 | EF2 | Onaga | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1993 | F1 | Wheaton | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $6M |
| May 6, 1993 | Tornado | Wheaton | $550K |
| Mar 29, 1993 | Tornado | To 4 N | $505K |
| Apr 17, 1976 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 31, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 18, 1979 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie 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; 10,214 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shawnee County | 15 | |
| Riley County | 16 | |
| Jackson County | 18 | |
| Nemaha County | 15 | |
| Marshall County | 17 | |
| Wabaunsee County | 25 |
Cities in Pottawatomie County
Common questions about Pottawatomie County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Pottawatomie County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pottawatomie County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Pottawatomie County had?
Pottawatomie County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Pottawatomie County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 43rd 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 Pottawatomie County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County had?
NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Pottawatomie County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1978. The weather service has also logged 408 hail reports and 33 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.