Natural Disasters in Emporia, KS

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

47.6

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

56.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

20.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

66.3

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Ice Storm92.7Winter Weather88.8Wildfire88.3

Hazard	Risk Score
Ice Storm	92.7
Winter Weather	88.8
Wildfire	88.3
Lightning	74.1
Tornado	69.7
Hail	61.8
Heat Wave	60.2
Drought	54.7
Strong Wind	53.7
Cold Wave	52.0
Landslide	40.1
Earthquake	36.8

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Severe Storm

Sep 2025

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

17 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Sep 11, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jun 20, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, FLOODING,LANDSLIDES,AND MUDSLIDES
May 28, 2019	Severe Storm	TORNADOES AND FLOODING
Jul 20, 2015	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Oct 22, 2013	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jul 29, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Aug 10, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
Mar 9, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORM
Jun 25, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
Jun 24, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND RECORD AND NEAR RECORD SNOW
Feb 1, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS
Dec 12, 2007	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS
May 6, 2007	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Feb 8, 2005	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, HEAVY RAINS, AND FLOODING
Aug 3, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
Feb 6, 2002	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER ICE STORM
Nov 5, 1998	Severe Storm	KS-FLOODING 10/31/98
Jul 22, 1993	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 26 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$969,985

Avg Claim Payout

$15,156

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$4,195,221

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4449	Other	11	$3,743,376
DR-4504	Biological	7	$279,569
DR-1932	Severe Storm(s)	6	$68,294
DR-4230	Severe Storm(s)	3	$66,075
DR-1741	Severe Storm(s)	5	$37,907

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$2,169,273

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.41

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	2	$251,625
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	2	$1,796,295
206.1: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Private Structures	1	$87,834
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$25,674
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan); 602.1: Other Equipment Purchase and Installation	1	$7,845

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Emporia has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, winter weather, wildfire. The area has had 26 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (17 declarations). 64 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $4,195,221 in public assistance recovery funding. 7 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.