Sherman County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Sherman County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 83rd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are strong wind, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $6.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,046 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 5 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 Sherman County
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong wind | 79.6 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 84.7 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.9 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 32.6 | $717K | ||
| Cold wave | 33.7 | $604K | ||
| Drought | 58.0 | $300K | ||
| Winter weather | 68.8 | $149K | ||
| Lightning | 17.8 | $73K | ||
| Earthquake | 17.4 | $27K | ||
| Ice storm | 17.7 | $15K | ||
| Wildfire | 28.1 | $15K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.6 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 3.3 | $5 |
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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Sherman County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,492 storm reports in Sherman County since 1952, with 2 deaths and 9 injuries and about $34.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 19, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1982 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1994 | F2 | Goodland | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1984 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2007 | EF2 | Goodland | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 1952 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 2009 | Hail | Goodland Arpt | $25M |
| Jun 23, 1962 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 19, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 3, 1994 | Hail | Edson | $500K |
| May 24, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Goodland | $500K |
| Jun 7, 1994 | Tornado | Goodland | $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 Sherman 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 Sherman 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; 2,936 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas County | 11 | |
| Kit Carson County, CO | 5 | |
| Logan County | 13 | |
| Cheyenne County | 10 | |
| Rawlins County | 9 | |
| Wallace County | 15 |
Common questions about Sherman County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Sherman County?
Strong wind has the highest expected yearly losses in Sherman County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $1.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Sherman County had?
Sherman County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Sherman County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 83rd 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 Sherman County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Sherman 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 Sherman County had?
NOAA records list 110 tornadoes in Sherman County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 19, 1982. The weather service has also logged 713 hail reports and 54 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.