Emporia, KS (ZIP 66801) sits in one of the more disaster-active areas in the region, with 349 natural disaster events on record. These include 257 hailstorms, 35 severe wind events, and 22 tornadoes. Total documented property damage amounts to $59.1M. These events have resulted in 12 recorded deaths and 210 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for Emporia is hailstorms, with 257 recorded events making up 74% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 5 (2%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for hail-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Sep 3, 2025.
There have been 35 recorded severe wind events in this area, representing 10% of all disaster events. Wind-related events have caused a combined $4K in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to severe wind events in this area. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on May 19, 2024.
There have been 22 recorded tornadoes in this area, representing 6% of all disaster events. Of these, 2 (9%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for tornado-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Tornado-related events have caused a combined $55.9M in documented property damage. 7 fatalities have been attributed to tornadoes in this area. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Apr 19, 2023.
There have been 20 recorded floods in this area, representing 6% of all disaster events. Of these, 14 (70%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $2.1M in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Jun 3, 2025.
Emporia has experienced 9 blizzards on record. Of these, 2 (22%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). Winter storm events have caused a combined $1M in documented property damage. 2 fatalities have been attributed to blizzards in this area. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Dec 16, 2008.
Emporia has experienced 3 wildfires on record. The most recent recorded wildfire occurred on Mar 14, 2023.
The most significant disaster event on record for Emporia was EF4 Tornado on Jun 8, 1974, which caused $25M in property damage and was linked to 6 fatalities. Another major event was EF2 Tornado (Jun 7, 1990), causing $25M in damages. EF2 Tornado on May 18, 1987 also caused significant damage ($2.5M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 66801 has experienced 349 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include hailstorms (257 events), severe wind events (35 events), tornadoes (22 events), floods (20 events), blizzards (9 events), wildfires (3 events), extreme heat events (2 events), and extreme cold event (1 event). The primary hazard is hailstorms, which account for 74% of all recorded events.
Hailstorms are the most frequently recorded hazard in Emporia, KS, with 257 events documented.
Yes, Emporia (ZIP 66801) has 20 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $2.1M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Jun 3, 2025.
Emporia has 22 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 5/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $55.9M. The most recent tornado was recorded on Apr 19, 2023.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 66801 was EF4 Tornado, which occurred on Jun 8, 1974. This event caused $25M in documented property damage. It resulted in 6 reported fatalities. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $59.1M in property damage in the Emporia, KS area (ZIP 66801). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced 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 →