Stafford County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Stafford County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are drought, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $8.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,998 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 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 Stafford County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 94.1 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 62.0 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 85.2 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.9 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 38.8 | $818K | ||
| Wildfire | 81.1 | $452K | ||
| Strong wind | 34.8 | $352K | ||
| Ice storm | 60.3 | $140K | ||
| Heat wave | 18.5 | $54K | ||
| Winter weather | 28.1 | $28K | ||
| Earthquake | 18.4 | $24K | ||
| Lightning | 5.7 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 1.6 | $1 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Stafford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
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 704 storm reports in Stafford County since 1952, with 3 deaths and 8 injuries and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 4, 2007 near Macksville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2007 | EF3 | Macksville | 0 / 1 |
| May 25, 1965 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1955 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 1964 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 1964 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 1993 | Tornado | Byers | $500K |
| Jun 30, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | St John | $300K |
| May 25, 1965 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 19, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 4, 1979 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 28, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Stafford 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 Stafford 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; 2,093 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reno County | 22 | |
| Barton County | 26 | |
| Rice County | 24 | |
| Pratt County | 17 | |
| Pawnee County | 27 | |
| Edwards County | 27 |
Common questions about Stafford County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Stafford County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Stafford County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Stafford County had?
Stafford County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Stafford County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 Stafford 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 Stafford County had?
NOAA records list 72 tornadoes in Stafford County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 4, 2007 near Macksville. The weather service has also logged 437 hail reports and 12 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.