Bourbon County Disaster Risk

Bourbon County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 36th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.

Bourbon County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (45th percentile), tornado (44th percentile), earthquake (43th percentile), flooding (40th percentile), hurricane (24th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 45th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.

Bourbon County's composite risk percentile is 36th, compared to the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Bourbon County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kansas.

Yes, Bourbon County's wildfire risk is at the 45th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Bourbon County is at the 40th percentile.

FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.

Bourbon County's composite risk score of 36th percentile is above the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (45th percentile). Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.