Seward County, KS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Seward County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Seward County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 58% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (86th 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. Seward County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (6), biological (2), snowstorm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 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 | 88.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 14.8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 41.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 19.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 69 | 3 | 0 | $200K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.6 | 61 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 65.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 58.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 59 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 56.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 97.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 4.6 | 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
Seward County ranks in the 86th percentile (High) 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 | 86th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 79th | High |
| Household characteristics | 74th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 97th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 80th | High |
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 | 86th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 28.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 68 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 48 in 2016–20 vs 20 in 2021–25 (-58% — 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 Seward County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Seward County, Kansas are drought, wildfire, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Seward County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Seward County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Seward County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Seward County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Seward County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Stevens County, KS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Grant County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Seward County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Seward County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Seward 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. Seward County's composite score of 42 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 42% of US counties.