Jackson County, Kansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 22th
Jackson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 21.5, 22th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Jackson County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 21.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 22nd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $231K in expected annual loss and about 0.94 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $130K in expected annual loss and about 11.53 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jackson County has a 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.
History supports the rating: Jackson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 12 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 105 Kansas counties, Jackson County ranks #50 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.94 / yr | $231K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 11.53 / yr | $130K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $3K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.00 / yr | $517K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.52 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 6.91 / yr | $432K |
| Hail | Low | 9.50 / yr | $182K |
| Drought | Low | 14.13 / yr | $67K |
| Lightning | Low | 50.26 / yr | $158K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.93 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.11 / yr | $341K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $35K |
| 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
Jackson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Flood (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| August 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| July 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| February 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| December 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| May 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| November 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
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 Jackson County?
Jackson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 21.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 22th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jackson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $231K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $130K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jackson County compare to other Kansas counties?
Jackson County ranks #50 of 105 Kansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jackson County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Jackson County since 1967, most often 12 for severe storm events and 3 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. Jackson County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.