riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Harper County Disaster Risk

Harper County, Kansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

31th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#42

of 105 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

16th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Harper County

Risk Verdict

Harper County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 31th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Harper County, scoring in the 79th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 63th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (27th), hurricane (22th), flood (16th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Harper County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Harper County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Kansas. Its composite risk score is within 1.4 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Kansas as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Harper County, KS?
Harper County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 31th 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.
What types of natural hazards affect Harper County?
Harper County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (79th percentile), tornado (63th percentile), earthquake (27th percentile), hurricane (22th percentile), flooding (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 79th 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.
How does Harper County risk compare to the Kansas average?
Harper County's composite risk percentile is 31th, compared to the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Harper County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kansas.
Is Harper County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Harper County's wildfire risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Harper County is at the 16th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
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.
Why is Harper County higher risk than average?
Harper County's composite risk score of 31th percentile is above the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (79th percentile), along with tornado risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pawnee County

Kansas

+0.3

Very Low

32th percentile

Pottawatomie County

Kansas

-0.4

Very Low

31th percentile

Neosho County

Kansas

+1.2

Very Low

33th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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