Photo: Art davis · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Belle Plaine Township than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belle Plaine Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #122 of 151 in Kansas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then tornadoes (20%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Belle Plaine Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Strong wind
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Belle Plaine Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belle Plaine Township, and Belle Plaine Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #122 of 151 in Kansas; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Belle Plaine Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Kansas town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Belle Plaine Township has more expected damage per building than 81% of Kansas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Belle Plaine Township: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belle Plaine Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Belle Plaine Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Belle Plaine Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sumner County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belle Plaine Township
Disasters that paid out in Belle Plaine Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Belle Plaine Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$11K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,landslides,and Mudslides$140K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$11K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding$46K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes$28K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes$43K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
Show all 7
- 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding$13K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs
Sumner County has had 24 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Belle Plaine Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belle Plaine Township archive →Belle Plaine Township and its neighbors
Belle Plaine Township is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulvane | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Gore Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Belle Plaine Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Harmon Township | — | 96 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Palestine Township | — | 154 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| London Township | — | 572 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Belle Plaine Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Belle Plaine Township
Is Belle Plaine Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belle Plaine Township has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #122 of 151 in Kansas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Belle Plaine Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Sumner County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Belle Plaine Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belle Plaine Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Belle Plaine Township?
By FEMA money that reached Belle Plaine Township, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,landslides,and Mudslides (2019): $140K to Belle Plaine Township for repairs.
Is Belle Plaine Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Belle Plaine Township’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belle Plaine Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belle Plaine Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.