Barber County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Barber County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2025. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Barber County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 56% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Barber County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (12), biological (2), fire (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Fire | Anderson Creek Fire |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Snowstorm | Snowstorm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1973.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 92.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 10.6 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 17.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 23.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 18.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 73.2 | 58 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 31.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 52.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 84.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 14.4 | 1 | 0 | $100K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 92.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 17 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Barber County ranks in the 51st percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 51st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 42nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 75th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 38th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 48th | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 97th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 97th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 45.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 65 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 45 in 2016–20 vs 20 in 2021–25 (-56% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Barber County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Barber County, Kansas are drought, wildfire, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Barber County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Barber County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2025. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Barber County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Barber County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Barber County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pratt County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Comanche County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Barber County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Barber County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Barber County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Barber County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.