Herman J. and Ella B. Voigts House · Photo: Glenn Kinyon · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Leawood faces less hazard damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leawood gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #16 of 151 in Kansas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 72 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Leawood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Leawood 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 Leawood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Leawood, and Leawood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #16 of 151 in Kansas; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Leawood’s residents live in 11 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, Leawood has less expected damage per building than 90% of Kansas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.2M a year in losses across Leawood: $11.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Leawood flood? Sometimes: 72 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Leawood, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Leawood 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Leawood
Disasters that paid out in Leawood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Leawood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$154K to the City of Leawood for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$719K to the City of Leawood for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$1.1M to the City of Leawood 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 Leawood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leawood archive →Leawood and its neighbors
Leawood has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leawood | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Prairie Village | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Overland Park | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 248 |
| Kansas City | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1,187 |
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 Leawood 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 Leawood
Is Leawood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leawood has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #16 of 151 in Kansas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Leawood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 72 claims in Leawood since 1979, $1.6M in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Leawood 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 Leawood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leawood’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 Leawood?
By FEMA money that reached Leawood, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $1.1M to the City of Leawood for repairs.
Is Leawood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Leawood’s rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leawood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leawood’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.