Woodson County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Woodson 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 91st of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $2.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $897 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires). Only 2 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 Woodson 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.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 13.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 26.4 | $275K | ||
| Drought | 63.8 | $250K | ||
| Cold wave | 26.6 | $245K | ||
| Strong wind | 32.2 | $217K | ||
| Wildfire | 76.0 | $196K | ||
| Hail | 40.8 | $126K | ||
| Heat wave | 35.0 | $123K | ||
| Lightning | 36.8 | $98K | ||
| Ice storm | 53.0 | $67K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.0 | $37K | ||
| Earthquake | 25.7 | $33K | ||
| Landslide | 30.5 | $223 |
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 high 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 Woodson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 275 storm reports in Woodson County since 1956, with 1 death and 12 injuries and about $7.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1956.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1956 | F4 | – | 5 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 1956 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2003 | F3 | Toronto | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1991 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2003 | Tornado | Toronto | $3M |
| Mar 15, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 9, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Yates Center | $500K |
| Jun 30, 2005 | Hail | Yates Center | $415K |
| Apr 7, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 26, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 16, 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 Woodson 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 Woodson 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; 1,845 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Neosho County | 19 | |
| Allen County | 12 | |
| Wilson County | 15 | |
| Coffey County | 17 | |
| Anderson County | 16 | |
| Greenwood County | 23 |
Common questions about Woodson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Woodson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Woodson County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $274,731.
How many federal disasters has Woodson County had?
Woodson County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.
Is Woodson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 91st 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 Woodson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Woodson 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 Woodson County had?
NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Woodson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1956. The weather service has also logged 132 hail reports and 28 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.