Labette County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Labette County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Labette County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, tornado, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 56% 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. Labette County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1973, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (8), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
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 | Very Low | 38.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 68.7 | 19 | 0 | $600 |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 56.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 83.6 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 38.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 71 | 39 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 81.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 79.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 90.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 73 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 46.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 82 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 35.2 | 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
Labette County ranks in the 49th 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 | 49th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 33rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 83rd | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 44th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 45th | 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 | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 62 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 43 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (-56% — 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 Labette County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Labette County, Kansas are ice storm, tornado, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Labette County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Labette County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Labette County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Labette County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Labette County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Montgomery County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Neosho County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Labette County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Labette County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Labette 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. Labette County's composite score of 66 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 66% of US counties.