Great Bend, KS
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Great Bend is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Barton County, KS. The county's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and ice storm.
Storm events near Great Bend
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Great Bend's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Great Bend 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 Barton County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Great Bend along with the rest of the county, not a Great Bend-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 74.1 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 42.7 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 36.3 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 68.1 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 86.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 66.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 47.9 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 96.3 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | 89.1 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 7.8 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 47.5 | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | 90.6 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 86.9 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Barton County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Barton County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Great Bend, KS at risk of?
Great Bend 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 Barton County, where Great Bend is located, are hail, strong wind, and ice storm.
What is Great Bend's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hail is the highest-rated hazard for Barton County, where Great Bend is located, scoring 96.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Great Bend a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Great Bend carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Barton County.
Has Great Bend had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 19 tornado, 252 hail, 34 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Great Bend since 2016.