Montgomery County, Kansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 73th
Montgomery County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 73.4, 73th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $27M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Montgomery County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 73.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 73rd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.51 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 1.37 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $235K in expected annual loss and about 8.37 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $27M in expected annual loss for a population of 31K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montgomery County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Montgomery County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 8 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, Montgomery County ranks #8 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.51 / yr | $6M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.37 / yr | $235K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.76 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.58 / yr | $469K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 16.58 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 53.86 / yr | $509K |
| Hail | Medium | 7.07 / yr | $565K |
| Drought | Medium | 44.04 / yr | $481K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.11 / yr | $11M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $149K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $1K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $211K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $18K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Montgomery County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| October 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| June 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| July 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| December 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| July 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Montgomery County?
Montgomery County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 73th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Montgomery County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $6M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $5M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $235K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montgomery County compare to other Kansas counties?
Montgomery County ranks #8 of 105 Kansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montgomery County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County since 1973, most often 8 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. Montgomery County's $27M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.