Liberal, KS
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Liberal is rated Very Low for overall natural hazard risk — among the lowest-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Seward County, KS. The county's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and hail.
Storm events near Liberal
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Liberal's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Liberal 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 Seward County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Liberal along with the rest of the county, not a Liberal-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 88.4 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 14.8 | Very Low |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 41.1 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 19.8 | Very Low |
| Tornado | 69 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 59 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 97.3 | Relatively High |
| Hail | 83.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 57.1 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 4.6 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 56.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 65.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 58.2 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Seward County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Seward County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Liberal, KS at risk of?
Liberal is rated Very Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Seward County, where Liberal is located, are drought, wildfire, and hail.
What is Liberal's biggest natural hazard risk?
Drought is the highest-rated hazard for Seward County, where Liberal is located, scoring 97.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Liberal a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Liberal carries among the lowest-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very Low" for Seward County.
Has Liberal had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 7 tornado, 125 hail, 11 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Liberal since 2016.