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Wichita County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
90th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$5Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Wichita County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 90th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,222 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2023 (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 Wichita County

Hail

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 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
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 76 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$735,794 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailModerate88.8
$2M
DroughtModerate80.4
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low4.4
$736K
Cold waveLow39.1
$720K
TornadoVery Low18.0
$227K
Strong windVery Low12.9
$117K
Winter weatherLow33.3
$39K
LightningVery Low7.8
$28K
EarthquakeVery Low8.9
$10K
Heat waveVery Low4.7
$6K
Ice stormVery Low7.3
$4K
WildfireVery Low10.0
$4K
LandslideVery Low1.3
$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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Wichita County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Oct 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2017Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency

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 497 storm reports in Wichita County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $7.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 22, 1999 near Leoti.

37tornadoes
329hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 22, 1999F3Leoti0 / 0
May 13, 1968F3–4 / 0
Jun 20, 1951F2–0 / 0
Jul 12, 1956F2–0 / 0
May 26, 1996F1Leoti0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 16, 1999HailLeoti$3M
May 16, 1999HailLeoti$3M
May 22, 1993HailSelkirk$505K
Jul 20, 2023Thunderstorm WindMarienthal$285K
Jun 22, 1999TornadoLeoti$250K
Jul 20, 2023Thunderstorm WindMarienthal$120K

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 Wichita 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 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest 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 Wichita County

$99,300median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
87%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.3%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; 920 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
Scott CountyLow8
Kearny CountyVery Low9
Logan CountyVery Low13
Hamilton CountyVery Low9
Wallace CountyVery Low15
Greeley CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Wichita County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wichita County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Wichita County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Wichita County had?

Wichita County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in October 2023.

Is Wichita County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 90th 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 Wichita 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 Wichita County had?

NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Wichita County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 22, 1999 near Leoti. The weather service has also logged 329 hail reports and 15 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.