Natural Disasters in Kansas: History & Risk Data
126,762 recorded disaster events across 684 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Kansas
📊 Kansas Disaster Profile
Kansas has one of the most extensive natural disaster records in the United States, with 126,762 documented events spread across 684 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $32.4B. A total of 3,709 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Kansas's disaster profile with 96,563 events (76%), causing $3.1B in property damage. Other significant hazards include severe wind events (11,003 events, $1B in damages), tornadoes (7,842 events, $22.7B in damages), and floods (4,640 events, $2B in damages). Kansas has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Kansas include ZIP 67735 (608 events, $35M in damages), ZIP 67801 (579 events, $24.7M in damages), and ZIP 67871 (528 events, $9.5M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Kansas has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 513% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2008 stands out as particularly active, with 6,357 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Kansas
What natural disasters occur in Kansas?
Kansas has experienced 126,762 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (96,563), severe wind events (11,003), tornadoes (7,842), floods (4,640), blizzards (4,413), earthquakes (1,410), extreme heat events (364), wildfires (301), and extreme cold events (226). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 76% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Kansas?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Kansas are ZIP 67735 (608 events), ZIP 67801 (579 events), ZIP 67871 (528 events), ZIP 67846 (501 events), and ZIP 67756 (500 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Kansas?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $32.4B in property damage across Kansas. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →