Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Wabaunsee County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $995 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 20 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 Wabaunsee 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 27.2 | $4M | ||
| Wildfire | 88.6 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 33.4 | $720K | ||
| Strong wind | 28.5 | $317K | ||
| Heat wave | 36.8 | $226K | ||
| Ice storm | 63.6 | $180K | ||
| Hail | 31.4 | $148K | ||
| Winter weather | 59.2 | $101K | ||
| Lightning | 24.6 | $100K | ||
| Drought | 36.7 | $57K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.5 | $40K | ||
| Earthquake | 14.9 | $19K | ||
| Landslide | 65.0 | $4K |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Wabaunsee 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 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 579 storm reports in Wabaunsee County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 28 injuries and about $31.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 19, 1960.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1960 | F4 | – | 12 / 0 |
| Aug 17, 1985 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 28, 2012 | EF2 | Harveyville | 12 / 1 |
| Mar 13, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 7, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1960 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Mar 13, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 6, 1993 | Tornado | Eskridge | $550K |
| Jul 1, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxico | $550K |
| May 17, 1995 | Hail | Alma | $440K |
| Apr 19, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alma | $381K |
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 Wabaunsee 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 Wabaunsee 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; 3,136 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shawnee County | 15 | |
| Riley County | 16 | |
| Geary County | 14 | |
| Lyon County | 25 | |
| Pottawatomie County | 18 | |
| Osage County | 24 | |
| Morris County | 26 |
Common questions about Wabaunsee County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Wabaunsee County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wabaunsee County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Wabaunsee County had?
Wabaunsee County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Wabaunsee County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Wabaunsee County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Wabaunsee 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 Wabaunsee County had?
NOAA records list 47 tornadoes in Wabaunsee County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 19, 1960. The weather service has also logged 291 hail reports and 40 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.