Atchison County, Kansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 16th
Atchison County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.0, 16th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Atchison County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 16.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 16th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Atchison County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $326K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $625K in expected annual loss and about 9.44 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $215K in expected annual loss and about 0.81 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Atchison County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The federal record bears this out: Atchison County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 10 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 105 Kansas counties, Atchison County ranks #65 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $326K |
| Hail | Low | 9.44 / yr | $625K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $215K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $4K |
| Drought | Low | 18.68 / yr | $443K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.95 / yr | $644K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.34 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.26 / yr | $95K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 6.96 / yr | $577K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.69 / yr | $200K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $70K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 3.05 / yr | $452K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.86 / yr | $4M |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Atchison County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (5), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,and Mudslides |
| July 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| September 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| June 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| August 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| February 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| December 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Atchison County?
Atchison County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 16th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Atchison County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $326K EAL), Hail (Low, $625K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $215K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Atchison County compare to other Kansas counties?
Atchison County ranks #65 of 105 Kansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Atchison County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Atchison County since 1967, most often 10 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Atchison County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.