Cloud County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Cloud County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Cloud County's highest-rated hazards are hail, ice storm, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 53% 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. Cloud County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1967, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (10), biological (2), winter storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1967.
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 | 62.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 22.3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 17.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 48.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 47.9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.9 | 49 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 64.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 69.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 81.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 30 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 31.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 12.1 | 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
Cloud County ranks in the 34th 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 | 34th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 45th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 36th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 27th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 31st | 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 | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 35.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 56 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 38 in 2016–20 vs 18 in 2021–25 (-53% — 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 Cloud County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Cloud County, Kansas are hail, ice storm, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Cloud County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Cloud County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Cloud County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Cloud County include Severe Winter Storm (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does Cloud County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Mitchell County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Washington County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Cloud County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Cloud County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Cloud 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. Cloud County's composite score of 20 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 20% of US counties.