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Sheridan County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
94th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$5Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Sheridan County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 94th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,152 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). 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 Sheridan County

Hail

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Drought

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 70 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$679,165 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailModerate86.6
$2M
DroughtModerate78.0
$1M
Strong windLow42.2
$679K
Inland floodingVery Low2.2
$615K
TornadoVery Low18.3
$323K
Cold waveVery Low12.5
$177K
Winter weatherLow29.9
$46K
Heat waveVery Low10.3
$30K
LightningVery Low5.9
$29K
Ice stormVery Low13.4
$12K
WildfireVery Low15.7
$8K
EarthquakeVery Low4.0
$6K
LandslideVery Low5.9
$15

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 Sheridan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2017Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor 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
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Show all 15
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
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 642 storm reports in Sheridan County since 1956 and about $8.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 14, 1970.

50tornadoes
355hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
204damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 14, 1970F3–0 / 0
May 18, 2025EF3Angelus0 / 0
May 18, 2025EF3Angelus0 / 0
May 23, 2008EF2Tasco0 / 0
May 22, 2008EF2Seguin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 14, 1970Tornado–$3M
May 23, 2008TornadoTasco$1M
May 22, 2008TornadoSeguin$750K
Apr 24, 2008HailSelden$670K
Jun 16, 2006Thunderstorm WindHoxie$625K
May 12, 1995TornadoMenlo$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 Sheridan 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 4 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest 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 Sheridan County

$167,200median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 1,155 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
Thomas CountyVery Low11
Norton CountyVery Low11
Decatur CountyVery Low10
Gove CountyVery Low11
Graham CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Sheridan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sheridan County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Sheridan County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Sheridan County had?

Sheridan County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Sheridan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 94th 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 Sheridan 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 Sheridan County had?

NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Sheridan County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 14, 1970. The weather service has also logged 355 hail reports and 32 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.