Storms, floods and disasters in Kelso Township
Kelso Township isn’t graded for hazard risk: Kelso Township has 356 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2001.
What Kelso 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
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.
Does Kelso Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kelso Township, from FEMA’s records.
- The Severe flooding2 claims · $6K
Kelso 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: Sibley County.The storms Kelso Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Sibley County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Kelso Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20012 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Sibley County
Sibley County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Kelso Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kelso Township archive →Kelso Township and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson Township | — | 929 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Sibley Township | — | 307 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Arlington Township | — | 430 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lake Prairie Township | — | 651 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 Kelso 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.
- 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 Kelso Township
Does Kelso Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Kelso Township since 2001, $6K in all. The most claims came from Severe flooding (2).
Is Kelso 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 Sibley County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Kelso Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kelso 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 Kelso Township?
By flood claims, Severe flooding: 2 paid, $6K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kelso Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kelso 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.