Photo: Stephen Edmonds · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Kansas City’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kansas City gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #36 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 1,187 claims here since 1978.
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 Kansas City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kansas City 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 Kansas City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kansas City, and Kansas City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #36 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kansas City’s residents live in 183 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Kansas City has less expected damage per building than 86% of Missouri towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Kansas City has lower expected damage per building than 78% (#87 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $193M, is the 44th largest of those 400.
Does Kansas City flood? Yes: 1,187 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kansas City, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding118 claims · $5.2M
- Hurricane Ike4 claims · $656K
Kansas City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Jackson County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kansas City
Disasters that paid out in Kansas City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Kansas City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding55 households applied for aid$35K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Flooding2 households applied for aid$362 aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$205K to the City of Kansas City for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$287K to the City of Kansas City for repairs25 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding78 households applied for aid$234K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$159K to the City of Kansas City for repairs
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding162 households applied for aid$226K aid approved23 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding313 households applied for aid$164K aid approved
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$17.7M to the City of Kansas City for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Its 3 counties have had 28 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 Kansas City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kansas City archive →Kansas City and its neighbors
Kansas City is 4th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raytown | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 95 |
| Kansas City | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 278 |
| Liberty | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Kansas City | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1,187 |
| Belton | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Claycomo | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 107 |
| Lee's Summit | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Independence | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 303 |
| Sugar Creek | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Grandview | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Unity Village | — | 121 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 Kansas City 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.
- Kansas City residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Kansas City
Is Kansas City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kansas City has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #36 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kansas City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,187 claims in Kansas City since 1978, $40.5M in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 152 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (118).
Is Kansas City 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 Jackson County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kansas City?
Kansas City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Kansas City?
By FEMA money that reached Kansas City, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $17.7M to the City of Kansas City for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 118 paid, $5.2M.
Is Kansas City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Kansas City’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kansas City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kansas City’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.