Rice County, Kansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 29th
Rice County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 28.5, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Rice County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 28.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 29th 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.
Risk here concentrates in hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 11.04 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $473K in expected annual loss and about 0.89 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $342K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Rice 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Rice County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 16 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires (severe storm), declared in May 2025.
Among 105 Kansas counties, Rice County ranks #45 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Medium | 11.04 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $473K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $342K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 11.95 / yr | $116K |
| Drought | Low | 50.17 / yr | $406K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.85 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.53 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.84 / yr | $343K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 7.01 / yr | $537K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $34K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 46.07 / yr | $47K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $4 |
| 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
Rice County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (16), Flood (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires |
| October 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight Line Winds |
| 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 |
| February 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| October 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| March 2017 | Fire | Highland Hills Fire |
| February 2017 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Rice County?
Rice County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 28.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 29th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rice County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $2M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $473K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $342K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rice County compare to other Kansas counties?
Rice County ranks #45 of 105 Kansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Rice County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Rice County since 1965, most often 16 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires, declared in May 2025.
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. Rice County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.