Hamilton County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hamilton County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Hamilton County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 37% 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. Hamilton County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (6), biological (2), snowstorm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, 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 |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1965.
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 | 27.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 1.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 6.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 14.4 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 76.2 | 74 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 7.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 22.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 24.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 16.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 85.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 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
Hamilton 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 | 33rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 43rd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 73rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 21st | 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 | 54th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 57th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 51.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 85 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 52 in 2016–20 vs 33 in 2021–25 (-37% — 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 Hamilton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hamilton County, Kansas are drought, hail, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Hamilton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hamilton County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Hamilton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hamilton County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Hamilton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Prowers County, CO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Greeley County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Hamilton County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Hamilton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hamilton 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. Hamilton County's composite score of 4 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 4% of US counties.