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Wyandotte County, Kansas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 105highest risk in Kansas
$68Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wyandotte County, Kansas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $68 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $405 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (60 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 434 claims here.

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

Top risks in Wyandotte County

$21.7 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.
$15.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.
$10.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.7
$22M
TornadoHigh96.9
$15M
Cold waveHigh95.4
$10M
Heat waveHigh96.9
$8M
Strong windVery High98.7
$6M
HailHigh96.6
$3M
Ice stormVery High95.3
$1M
Winter weatherVery High98.1
$1M
LightningHigh87.3
$887K
EarthquakeLow64.1
$497K
WildfireVery Low46.2
$32K
DroughtLow31.2
$25K
LandslideLow76.8
$10K

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 moderate 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 Wyandotte County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood5
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Dec 19, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Nov 7, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Show all 24
Apr 13, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Nov 5, 1998Ks-Flooding 10/31/98Major disaster
Oct 14, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 20, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 450 storm reports in Wyandotte County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 47 injuries and about $29.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Bonner Spgs.

11tornadoes
188hail reports, largest 3 inches
204damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 2003F4Bonner Spgs30 / 2
May 7, 1961F4–0 / 0
May 7, 1961F4–12 / 0
May 7, 1961F4–0 / 0
May 15, 1966F2–5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 4, 2003TornadoBonner Spgs$16M
May 7, 1961Tornado–$3M
May 7, 1961Tornado–$3M
May 7, 1961Tornado–$3M
Oct 4, 1998Flash FloodKansas City$2M
Jun 28, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$1M

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 Wyandotte County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (60 policies)
15.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$10.8 millionpaid on 434 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $3.1 million 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 Wyandotte County

$172,300median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.5%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; 68,803 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
Jackson County, MOHigh24
Johnson CountyHigh10
Clay County, MOModerate23
Platte County, MOLow24
Leavenworth CountyLow21

Cities in Wyandotte County

Common questions about Wyandotte County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wyandotte County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wyandotte County, about $21.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $15.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Wyandotte County had?

Wyandotte County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in December 2025.

Is Wyandotte County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 Wyandotte County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Wyandotte 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 Wyandotte County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Wyandotte County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Bonner Spgs. The weather service has also logged 188 hail reports and 42 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.