Republic County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Republic County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,553 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2022 (severe storms and straight line winds). Only 15 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 Republic County
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 91.7 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 14.5 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 74.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 41.0 | $930K | ||
| Ice storm | 85.1 | $630K | ||
| Cold wave | 17.1 | $184K | ||
| Drought | 51.0 | $161K | ||
| Heat wave | 31.6 | $154K | ||
| Lightning | 24.7 | $90K | ||
| Winter weather | 47.5 | $61K | ||
| Wildfire | 41.5 | $30K | ||
| Earthquake | 15.1 | $17K | ||
| Landslide | 8.5 | $20 |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Republic County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
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 650 storm reports in Republic County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $17.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 18, 1986.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 1986 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 2008 | EF3 | Courtland | 0 / 0 |
| May 9, 1953 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2015 | EF3 | New Tabor | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2003 | Flash Flood | Republic | $4M |
| May 29, 2004 | Tornado | Norway | $3M |
| Sep 18, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 13, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 29, 2008 | Tornado | Courtland | $1M |
| Jun 13, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Belleville | $775K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Republic 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 Republic 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; 2,661 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud County | 14 | |
| Jefferson County, NE | 23 | |
| Washington County | 19 | |
| Thayer County, NE | 22 | |
| Nuckolls County, NE | 19 | |
| Jewell County | 15 |
Common questions about Republic County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Republic County?
Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Republic County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Republic County had?
Republic County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight Line Winds in February 2022.
Is Republic County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 58th 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 Republic County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Republic 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 Republic County had?
NOAA records list 70 tornadoes in Republic County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 18, 1986. The weather service has also logged 355 hail reports and 24 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.