Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Gardner than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gardner gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #22 of 151 in Kansas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010.
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 Gardner 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 Gardner’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gardner, and Gardner’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #22 of 151 in Kansas; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gardner’s residents live in 6 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, Gardner has less expected damage per building than 86% of Kansas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.4M a year in losses across Gardner: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gardner flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gardner, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Gardner 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.The storms Gardner remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Johnson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Gardner itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20101 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 Gardner after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gardner archive →Gardner and its neighbors
Gardner is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Gardner Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Gardner | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Olathe | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Edgerton | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| McCamish Township | — | 965 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 Gardner 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 Gardner
Is Gardner at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gardner has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #22 of 151 in Kansas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gardner flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Gardner since 2010, $5K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Gardner 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 Gardner?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gardner’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Gardner at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Gardner’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gardner.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gardner’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.