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Kansas Flood Zone Map

Last updated: August 2026

Kansas faces flooding from the Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Republican rivers, as well as flash flooding from severe thunderstorms. The Great Flood of 1951 remains one of the most destructive floods in U.S. history, affecting communities throughout eastern Kansas.

2 of 105 Kansas counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 44 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 25%.

Kansas has recorded 7,901 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $115.1M in payouts. See how Kansas compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.

FEMA Region

Region 7

Also covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska

NFIP Policies

7,808

Policies effective in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 - August 16, 2026), not a certified point-in-time count

KS Avg. Premium

$1,022/yr

National average: $915/yr

Active NFIP Policies in Kansas

Kansas had 7,808 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,022, totaling $8.0M in annual premiums. Because a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice, this runs above the number in force at any one moment.

Average Annual Premium

Kansas$1,022
National Average$915

Policies by Flood Zone

Zone AE
3,641(avg. $1,125/yr)
Zone X
2,623(avg. $942/yr)
Zone A
1,185(avg. $964/yr)
Zone AH
308(avg. $759/yr)
Zone AO
40(avg. $805/yr)

Policies by Property Type

Single Family74%(5,696)- (avg. $897/yr)
Non-Residential20%(1,505)- (avg. $1,512/yr)
Other Residential2%(167)- (avg. $2,030/yr)
Residential Condo2%(164)- (avg. $273/yr)
2-4 Family2%(143)- (avg. $746/yr)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Policies API. Reflects policies with an effective date in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 through August 16, 2026) - a 12-month policy term plus a 1-month buffer for OpenFEMA's own reporting lag - as an approximation of currently active policies, not a certified point-in-time count. Policies renewed early in this window may be counted twice, so actual totals may be somewhat lower than shown. See national policies data.

NFIP Flood Insurance Claims

Kansas properties have filed 7,901 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $115.1M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $47,964.

Recent Years

2025111 claims$5.3M(avg. $47,964)
202435 claims$1.2M(avg. $32,914)
20237 claims$69K(avg. $9,857)
202217 claims$230K(avg. $13,529)
202128 claims$673K(avg. $24,036)
202043 claims$377K(avg. $8,767)

Claims by Decade

376
1,851
2,683
1,430
1,269
292
1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
$2.5M$10.2M$36.9M$29.6M$26.8M$9.0M

Highest-Claim Years

19931,162 claims$11.9M(avg. $10,225)
1998665 claims$18.2M(avg. $27,405)
2007646 claims$16.6M(avg. $25,672)
1981539 claims$2.4M(avg. $4,384)
1979344 claims$2.4M(avg. $7,006)

Claims by Flood Zone

Zone A
3,167(avg. $14K)
Zone X
2,331(avg. $15K)
Zone AE
1,312(avg. $23K)
Zone AH
132(avg. $7K)
Zone AO
65(avg. $6K)
Zone AOB
10(avg. $7K)
Zone D
6(avg. $2K)
Zone AHB
1(avg. $2K)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.

Flood Insurance Coverage in Kansas

Only roughly 1 in 149 households in Kansas carries NFIP flood insurance (0.7% of estimated households). 60 of 105 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 4,144 recorded flood events and $431.4M in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.

Penetration Rate

0.7%

roughly 1 in 149 households

Historical Claims Ratio

1 in 1

7,901 claims over 45+ years across 7,808 current policies

Avg. Claim Payout

$14,562

Per claim, state-wide since 1978

Historically, Kansas has averaged 1.0 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.

Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI.

Repetitive Loss Properties in Kansas

Kansas has 499 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 62 severe repetitive loss properties. 22 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.

Multiple Loss

499

2+ claims within 10 years

Severe Repetitive Loss

62

4+ claims or 2 exceeding value

Mitigated

22

Received FEMA mitigation

By Flood Zone

Zone AE
187
Zone A
165
Zone X
127
Zone AH
9
Zone AO
2

Zone data available for 490 of 499 properties.

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.

Flood Insurance Discounts in Kansas

44 Kansas communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Kansas range from 5 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 25%.

Lenexa

Class 5 - 25% discount

Kansas City

Class 6 - 20% discount

Manhattan

Class 6 - 20% discount

Shawnee

Class 6 - 20% discount

Bonner Springs

Class 7 - 15% discount

Derby

Class 7 - 15% discount

Independence

Class 7 - 15% discount

Lansing

Class 7 - 15% discount

Overland Park

Class 7 - 15% discount

Pratt

Class 7 - 15% discount

Valley Center

Class 7 - 15% discount

Butler County

Class 7 - 15% discount

Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.

Federal Flood Disaster History

Kansas has received 14 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.

Declarations by Decade

2
1
5
2
1
1
2
1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s

Recent Declarations

2011FloodingFlood
2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane
1993Severe Storms & FloodingFlood
1986Severe Storms & FloodingFlood
1982Severe Storms and FloodingFlood
1979Severe Storms & FloodingFlood
1977Severe Storms & FloodingFlood
1976Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingFlood

Showing 8 most recent of 14 total declarations.

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.

Recorded Flood Events in Kansas

NOAA has recorded 4,144 flood events in Kansas since 1996, causing an estimated $431.4M in property and crop damage and 31 deaths.

Total Events

4,144

Total Damage

$431.4M

Fatalities

31

Events by Decade

318
1,520
1,840
466
1990s2000s2010s2020s

Costliest Events

July 1, 2007Flash Flood - Montgomery$81.2M
May 5, 2007Flash Flood - Barton$30M
July 1, 2007Flash Flood - Elk$27M
July 1, 2007Flash Flood - Wilson$21.6M
September 3, 2018Flash Flood - Riley$17.2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.

Flood Mitigation in Kansas

FEMA has funded mitigation for 2,885 properties in Kansas, investing $111.3M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).

Properties by Action

Acquisition
1,190
Other
961
Retrofit
576
Relocation
139
Tornado saferoom
18
Floodproofing
1

Mitigation by Decade

1,260
707
182
736
1990s2000s2010s2020s

Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.

Levee Protection in Kansas

The USACE National Levee Database lists 43 levee systems protecting parts of 18 Kansas cities. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped - accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited (PAL) systems generally leave their protected area in the SFHA.

By Accreditation Status

Accredited
16
Provisionally Accredited
9
Non-Accredited
15
Status Unclear
3

Largest Protected Areas

WVC Big Slough Levee D/WVC Riverside Levee P, R, S

Accredited

Protects: Haysville, Wichita - Flood source: Arkansas River, Big Slough, Cowskin Creek, Middle Fork Chisholm Creek - 58.56 sq mi

WVC Big Slough Levee C North

Accredited

Protects: Wichita - Flood source: Arkansas River, Big Slough - 57.78 sq mi

WVC Little Ark Levee F,K,L,M/WB Chisholm Creek WB

Accredited

Protects: Valley Center, Wichita - Flood source: Arkansas River, Canal/Ditch, Jester Creek, Little Arkansas River, Chisholm Creek, Unnamed Creek/Stream, Little Arkansas River, Unnamed Creek/Stream - 19.55 sq mi

Lawrence KS

Status Unclear

Protects: Lawrence - Flood source: Kansas River - 13.38 sq mi

North Topeka - Soldier Creek RB2

Provisionally Accredited

Protects: Topeka - Flood source: Kansas River - 9.47 sq mi

Kaw River Drainage District

Non-Accredited

Protects: Topeka - Flood source: Kansas River - 8.54 sq mi

...and 37 more systems tracked in the database.

Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.

Kansas Flood Risk Overview

County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 105 Kansas counties.

Inland Flood Risk

2 of 105 counties rated high or very high

Hurricane Risk

0 of 19 counties rated high or very high

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.

Kansas Cities

Explore flood zone information for major cities in Kansas.

Kansas Flood Zone FAQ

How do I check if my Kansas property is in a flood zone?

Enter your KS address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.

Do I need flood insurance in Kansas?

If your Kansas property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Kansas's flood history.

What are the most common flood zones in Kansas?

The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Kansas are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.

Can I remove my Kansas property from a flood zone?

Yes, if your Kansas property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Kansas's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.

Do any Kansas communities offer flood insurance discounts?

Yes, 44 Kansas communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 25% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.

How much does flood insurance cost in Kansas?

The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Kansas is $1,022 per year across 7,808 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $1,125/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.

Which Kansas counties have the highest flood risk?

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Johnson, Sedgwick are among Kansas's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 2 of 105 Kansas counties are rated "High" or "Very High" for inland flood risk. County-level ratings account for historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.

How many NFIP flood insurance claims has Kansas had?

Kansas has recorded 7,901 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $115.1M in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 1993, with 1,162 claims and $11.9M in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Kansas properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.

How many Kansas properties have flooded repeatedly?

Kansas has 499 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 62 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 22 of these properties have been mitigated.

What percentage of Kansas homes have flood insurance?

Only roughly 1 in 149 households in Kansas carries NFIP flood insurance (0.7% of estimated households). 60 counties in Kansas have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.

Are there levees protecting Kansas cities?

Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 43 levee systems protecting parts of 18 Kansas cities. 16 are FEMA-accredited (generally mapped as Zone X), 15 are non-accredited (the protected area stays in the SFHA), and 9 are provisionally accredited (PAL, accreditation in progress). Levee protection is system-specific, not citywide - check a specific city's page or use the address search above for the zone at a specific property.

See the Flood Map for Any Kansas Address

Enter a KS address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.

Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.