Rush County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Rush County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 96th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,591 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 6 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 Rush 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 6.3 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 31.5 | $852K | ||
| Drought | 67.2 | $677K | ||
| Hail | 62.2 | $630K | ||
| Cold wave | 27.0 | $558K | ||
| Strong wind | 22.3 | $315K | ||
| Ice storm | 47.2 | $116K | ||
| Winter weather | 32.4 | $51K | ||
| Wildfire | 42.5 | $47K | ||
| Lightning | 6.3 | $31K | ||
| Earthquake | 12.7 | $20K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.5 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 3.5 | $6 |
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 Rush County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
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 708 storm reports in Rush County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $12.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 18, 1968.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 1968 | F3 | – | 8 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 2001 | F2 | Rush Center | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 1964 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1951 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 1998 | Hail | La Crosse | $7M |
| May 16, 1999 | Hail | Rush Center | $2M |
| Jul 3, 2005 | Hail | Otis | $740K |
| Jun 21, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexander | $550K |
| May 16, 1995 | Hail | Bison | $500K |
| Jul 3, 2005 | Hail | La Crosse | $500K |
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 Rush 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 Rush 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; 1,679 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ellis County | 13 | |
| Barton County | 26 | |
| Russell County | 21 | |
| Pawnee County | 27 | |
| Ness County | 19 |
Common questions about Rush County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Rush County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rush County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $852,331.
How many federal disasters has Rush County had?
Rush County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Rush County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 96th 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 Rush County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Rush 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 Rush County had?
NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Rush County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 18, 1968. The weather service has also logged 449 hail reports and 25 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.