Photo: CommunicationsDeSoto · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, De Soto faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, De Soto gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #93 of 151 in Kansas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (12%). 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 De Soto 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
Hail
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 De Soto’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in De Soto, and De Soto’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #93 of 151 in Kansas; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
De Soto’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, De Soto has more expected damage per building than 61% of Kansas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across De Soto: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does De Soto flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in De Soto. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
De Soto isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Johnson County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to De Soto
Disasters that paid out in De Soto itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of De Soto), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$73K to the City of De Soto for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$71K to the City of De Soto for repairs
Johnson County has had 9 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 De Soto after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the De Soto archive →De Soto and its neighbors
De Soto is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenexa | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Shawnee | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Olathe | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Lexington Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sherman Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| De Soto | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 De Soto 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 De Soto
Is De Soto at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, De Soto has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #93 of 151 in Kansas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is De Soto 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 Johnson County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in De Soto?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for De Soto’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 De Soto?
By FEMA money that reached De Soto, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2017): $73K to the City of De Soto for repairs.
Is De Soto at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and De Soto’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in De Soto.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where De Soto’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.