Jefferson County, Kansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 20th
Jefferson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.7, 20th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Jefferson County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 19.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 20th 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 Jefferson County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $234K 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 — $301K in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $7K in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jefferson County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Jefferson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 10 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, Jefferson County ranks #57 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $234K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.11 / yr | $301K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.18 / yr | $7K |
| Lightning | Medium | 50.36 / yr | $546K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.89 / yr | $774K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.89 / yr | $99K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.43 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Low | 14.71 / yr | $182K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 7.32 / yr | $658K |
| Hail | Low | 9.85 / yr | $250K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.82 / yr | $6M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.74 / yr | $555K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $46K |
| 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
Jefferson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (3), 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 |
| May 2019 | Severe Storm | Tornadoes and Flooding |
| July 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| February 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| December 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| November 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 20th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $234K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $301K EAL), Landslide (Low, $7K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Kansas counties?
Jefferson County ranks #57 of 105 Kansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jefferson County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Jefferson County since 1967, most often 10 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. Jefferson County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.