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Douglass Township Community BuildingDouglass Township Community Building · Photo: Art davis · CC BY-SA 4.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Douglass · FEMA

FEMA puts Douglass’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Douglass gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%), then wildfire (24%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

River and rain flooding 54%Wildfire 24%Tornadoes 10%

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

more than 79%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C−
in Kansas · higher than 79% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
54% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
5
of 25 declared for Butler County

What stands out about Douglass’ natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Wildfire: the top 2% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for wildfire here ranks in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts; it is 23.5% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants2 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Douglass 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

54%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Wildfire

24%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts

Tornadoes

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Strong wind

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 7 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hail Ice storms Winter storms top 4% Earthquakes Heat waves top 1% Lightning Hurricanes Cold waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 21% of Douglass’ expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (9.9%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Douglass’ grade

River and rain flooding is 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Douglass, and Douglass’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 24%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Douglass sits
Douglass
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Douglass’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding54%Wildfire24%Tornadoes10%Everything else13%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Douglass: $636K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Douglass’ 1,555 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with Rock Creek township (269 residents) and Clay township (94 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Douglass flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Douglass. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Douglass isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Butler County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Douglass

Disasters that paid out in Douglass itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Douglass), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2009Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm$5K to the City of Douglass for repairs
  2. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$7K to the City of Douglass for repairs
  3. 2007Severe Winter Storms$2K to the City of Douglass for repairs
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
  5. 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$14K to the City of Douglass for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in DouglassButler County only

Butler County has had 25 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Douglass after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Douglass archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Douglass faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Wildfire
  • Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
  • Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
  • Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
High winds
  • Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
  • Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
  • Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Douglass

Is Douglass at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Douglass has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%) and wildfire (24%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Douglass 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 Butler County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Douglass?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Douglass’ 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 Douglass?

By FEMA money that reached Douglass, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 5 households applied for aid, $29K approved.

Is Douglass at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Douglass’ rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Douglass.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Douglass’ 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.