Kansas City, KS Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Kansas City, Kansas sits at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers and faces severe riverine flood risk. Low-lying areas in the river bottoms are particularly vulnerable to major flood events.
Wyandotte County has recorded 434 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $10.8M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 7
NFIP Policies
225
Wyandotte County
Avg. Premium
$1,787/yr
Wyandotte County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Wyandotte County
Properties in Wyandotte County have filed 434 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $10.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $25K.
Highest-Claim Years
1998
74 claims - $3.1M
1993
59 claims - $2.5M
2004
43 claims - $1.4M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Wyandotte County
Only roughly 1 in 297 households in Wyandotte County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.3% of estimated households). With 42 recorded flood events and $4.7M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.3%
roughly 1 in 297 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
434 claims over 45+ years across 225 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$24,802
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Wyandotte County has averaged 1.9 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. All figures are county-wide and include Kansas City.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County has 47 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 9 severe repetitive loss properties. 4 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
47
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
9
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
4
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 46 of 47 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Kansas City
Kansas City participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 6
SFHA Premium Discount
20% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Kansas City's Class 6 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County has been included in 6 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1973.
These declarations affected communities across Wyandotte County, including Kansas City.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Wyandotte County
NOAA has recorded 42 flood events in Wyandotte County since 1996, causing $4.7M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Wyandotte County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 94 properties in Wyandotte County, investing $3.2M 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).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. 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: Kansas City
The USACE National Levee Database lists 10 levee systems protecting parts of Kansas City. 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 systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Nearman Creek Power Station Levee
Provisionally AccreditedProtects against: MISSOURI RIVER - Sponsor: Nearman Creek Power Station - 0.26 sq mi protected
Wolcott Drainage District Section 2
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Missouri River - Sponsor: Wolcott Drainage District - 1.4 sq mi protected
Wolcott Drainage District Section 1
Status UnclearProtects against: Missouri River - Sponsor: Wolcott Drainage District - 1.36 sq mi protected
Turkey Creek Left Bank
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Turkey Creek - Sponsor: Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS - 0.05 sq mi protected
Turkey Creek Right Bank
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Turkey Creek - Sponsor: Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS - 0.3 sq mi protected
Central Industrial District (CID)
Status UnclearProtects against: Kansas River, Missouri River - Sponsor: City of Kansas City, MO, Kaw Valley Drainage District - 1.48 sq mi protected
...and 4 more systems tracked in the database.
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Wyandotte County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $21.7M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Kansas City
Kansas City faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Kansas City are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $21.7M.
Riverine flood risk in Kansas City is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Kansas City address.
Kansas City, KS Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Kansas City, KS?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Kansas City are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Kansas City?
If your Kansas City property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Kansas City?
Enter your Kansas City address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Kansas City offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Kansas City participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 6 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 20% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Kansas City experienced major flooding events?
Wyandotte County, where Kansas City is located, has been part of 6 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Flooding in 2011. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Kansas City?
Wyandotte County has recorded 434 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $10.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1998, with 74 claims and $3.1M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Kansas City.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Kansas City?
Wyandotte County had 225 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,787. The most policies are in Zone X (135 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Kansas City properties have flooded repeatedly?
Wyandotte County has 47 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 9 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is Kansas City protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 10 levee systems protecting parts of Kansas City. Some of these are FEMA-accredited and some are not - accreditation status varies by system, and only the accredited ones map their protected area as Zone X. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Kansas City property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Kansas City?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Kansas City's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Kansas Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Kansas City, KS Address
Enter a Kansas City, 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.