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Reno County, Kansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
5th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$45Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Reno County, Kansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $45 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $720 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (185 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 108 claims here, including $426,000 for floods in 2019.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Reno County

$14.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.
$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$4.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 230 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow70.9
$14M
TornadoHigh93.3
$10M
WildfireModerate95.5
$4M
Cold waveModerate80.5
$4M
Strong windHigh96.6
$4M
HailHigh94.3
$3M
Ice stormVery High96.9
$2M
Heat waveModerate84.6
$2M
Winter weatherHigh86.3
$317K
LightningLow50.3
$247K
DroughtLow51.3
$165K
EarthquakeVery Low40.3
$165K
LandslideVery Low11.5
$37

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 low 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 Reno County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood3
Fire3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2022Cottonwood Fire ComplexFire management
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
May 28, 2019Tornadoes and FloodingEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2017Highland Hills FireFire management
Oct 22, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 22
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 30, 2006Obee FireFire management
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1999Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,418 storm reports in Reno County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 43 injuries and about $94.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on March 13, 1990.

88tornadoes
720hail reports, largest 5 inches
539damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 13, 1990F5–1 / 0
Mar 26, 1991F4–5 / 0
May 24, 1962F3–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1965F3–2 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$25M
Mar 26, 1991Tornado–$25M
Jul 3, 2005Thunderstorm WindPretty Prairie$15M
May 23, 2007FloodHutchinson$7M
May 13, 1974Tornado–$3M
May 13, 1974Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Reno County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (185 policies)
11.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 108 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $425,960 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 Reno County

$132,500median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.3%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; 28,274 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
Sedgwick CountyHigh15
Harvey CountyVery Low22
McPherson CountyVery Low17
Rice CountyVery Low24
Pratt CountyLow17
Kingman CountyVery Low19
Stafford CountyVery Low25

Cities in Reno County

Common questions about Reno County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Reno County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Reno County, about $14.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10 million.

How many federal disasters has Reno County had?

Reno County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2025.

Is Reno County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 5th 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 Reno County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Reno 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 Reno County had?

NOAA records list 88 tornadoes in Reno County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on March 13, 1990. The weather service has also logged 720 hail reports and 52 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.