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Wilson County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wilson County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $934 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 26 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 72 claims here, including $635,000 for floods in 2007.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Wilson County

$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$747,969 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.7
$4M
TornadoLow51.6
$2M
Strong windModerate54.7
$748K
Cold waveLow36.8
$685K
DroughtModerate64.5
$456K
Heat waveLow45.3
$350K
HailLow35.4
$176K
LightningLow32.2
$140K
Ice stormLow51.1
$106K
WildfireVery Low59.0
$93K
Winter weatherLow52.2
$82K
EarthquakeVery Low26.8
$64K
LandslideVery Low37.2
$648

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 15, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
May 28, 2019Tornadoes and FloodingEmergency
Oct 22, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Nov 5, 1998Ks-Flooding 10/31/98Major disaster
Oct 22, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1976Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 436 storm reports in Wilson County since 1954, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $23.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 24, 1954.

23tornadoes
207hail reports, largest 4 inches
126damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 24, 1954F2–0 / 0
Apr 26, 2024EF2Buxton0 / 0
Sep 24, 1973F1–0 / 0
May 20, 1982F1–0 / 0
Mar 30, 2006F1Coyville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 1, 2007Flash FloodFredonia$22M
May 8, 2009Thunderstorm WindNew Albany$510K
Sep 24, 1973Tornado–$250K
May 20, 1982Tornado–$250K
Aug 20, 2005LightningFredonia$150K
Aug 25, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$123K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Wilson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (26 policies)
15.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 72 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $634,825 paid

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 Wilson County

$93,500median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.7%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; 4,493 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
Montgomery CountyLow13
Neosho CountyVery Low19
Allen CountyVery Low12
Greenwood CountyVery Low23
Woodson CountyVery Low23
Elk CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Wilson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wilson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wilson County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Wilson County had?

Wilson County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2024.

Is Wilson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Wilson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Wilson 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 Wilson County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Wilson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 24, 1954. The weather service has also logged 207 hail reports and 52 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.