Kansas natural disasters & FEMA declarations
KS · 20th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Kansas has had 93 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 20th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (47 declarations, about 51% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding" (Severe Storm), on Dec 19, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Kansas, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 47 | 51% |
| Fire | 14 | 15% |
| Flood | 13 | 14% |
| Tornado | 6 | 6% |
| Biological | 5 | 5% |
| Snowstorm | 3 | 3% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 70 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 14 |
| Emergency (EM) | 9 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Kansas's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 4 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 28 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4897-KS |
| Sep 11, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4891-KS |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4883-KS |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | DR-4869-KS |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Yates Center Fire | Fire | FM-5556-KS |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4824-KS |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Kansas
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Kansas in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Kansas had?
Kansas has had 93 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 20th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Kansas?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Kansas is "Severe Storm", with 47 declarations — about 51% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Kansas?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Kansas in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding" (Severe Storm), declared Dec 19, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18