Jackson County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Jackson County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Jackson County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, ice storm, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 52 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (25th 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. Jackson County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1967, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (12), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 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 | Relatively Moderate | 89.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 27 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 22.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 56.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 48.8 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.3 | 41 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 41 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 69.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 70.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 39.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 40.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 58.9 | 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
Jackson County ranks in the 25th 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 | 25th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 14th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 80th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 47th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 15th | 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 | 81st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 80th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 77.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 52 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 28 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (-14% — 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 Jackson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Jackson County, Kansas are wildfire, 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 Jackson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Jackson County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Jackson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Jackson County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Jackson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Shawnee County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Brown County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Jackson County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Jackson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Jackson 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. Jackson County's composite score of 22 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 22% of US counties.