Cherokee County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Cherokee County has experienced 26 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Cherokee County's highest-rated hazards are drought, ice storm, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 62% 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. Cherokee County has been designated in 26 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (17), flood (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 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 | Very Low | 56.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 54.8 | 19 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 52.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 67 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 74.3 | 6 | 0 | $889K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 26.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 58.5 | 66 | 0 | $430K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 73.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 85.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 63.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 30.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 93.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 38.1 | 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
Cherokee County ranks in the 47th percentile (Low) 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 | 47th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 46th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 58th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 40th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 43rd | 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 | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 91 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 66 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 (-62% — 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 Cherokee County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Cherokee County, Kansas are drought, ice storm, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Cherokee County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Cherokee County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (17 declarations).
Has Cherokee County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Cherokee County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Cherokee County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Jasper County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Craig County, OK has the lowest (Relatively Low). Cherokee County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Cherokee County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Cherokee 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. Cherokee County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.