Dickinson County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dickinson County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Dickinson County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, wildfire, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 62% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (19th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Dickinson County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1969, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (9), biological (2), flood (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1969.
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 Low | 83.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 48.6 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26.3 | 11 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 83.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 76 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 78 | 104 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 77.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 83.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 86.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 44.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 50.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 45.4 | 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
Dickinson County ranks in the 19th percentile (Very 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 | 19th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 17th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 32nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 20th | Very 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 | 60th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 70th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 46.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 123 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 47 in 2016–20 vs 76 in 2021–25 (+62% — frequency increasing).
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 Dickinson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dickinson County, Kansas are ice storm, wildfire, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Dickinson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dickinson County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Dickinson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Dickinson County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Dickinson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Saline County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Clay County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Dickinson County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Dickinson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dickinson 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. Dickinson County's composite score of 49 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 49% of US counties.