Geary County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Geary County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Geary County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, ice storm, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 26% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (74th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Geary County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1973, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (10), biological (2), winter storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| 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 |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 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 Low | 82 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.8 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 21.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 67.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 81.3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.6 | 67 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 86.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 84.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 9.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 47.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 25.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 65.6 | 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
Geary County ranks in the 74th 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 | 74th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 58th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 86th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 58th | Moderate |
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 | 84th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 86th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 30.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 77 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 34 in 2016–20 vs 43 in 2021–25 (+26% — 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 Geary County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Geary County, Kansas are winter weather, ice storm, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Geary County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Geary County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Geary County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Geary County include Severe Winter Storm (2024), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Geary County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Riley County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Wabaunsee County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Geary County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Geary County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Geary 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. Geary County's composite score of 41 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 41% of US counties.