Emporia, KS
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Emporia is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Lyon County, KS. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, winter weather, and wildfire.
Storm events near Emporia
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Emporia's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Emporia itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Lyon County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Emporia along with the rest of the county, not a Emporia-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 88.3 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 49.3 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 36.8 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 60.2 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 69.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 52 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 54.7 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 61.8 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | 92.7 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 40.1 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 74.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 53.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 88.8 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Lyon County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Lyon County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Emporia, KS at risk of?
Emporia is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Lyon County, where Emporia is located, are ice storm, winter weather, and wildfire.
What is Emporia's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Lyon County, where Emporia is located, scoring 92.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Emporia a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Emporia carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Lyon County.
Has Emporia had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 20 tornado, 147 hail, 37 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Emporia since 2016.