riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Jefferson County Disaster Risk

Jefferson County, Kansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

20th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#57

of 105 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

33th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Jefferson County

Risk Verdict

Jefferson County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 20th 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 Jefferson County, scoring in the 68th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 48th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (33th), earthquake (20th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Jefferson 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

Jefferson County is notably safer than the average county in Kansas. Its composite risk score is 10.2 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Jefferson County, KS?
Jefferson County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 20th 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (68th percentile), tornado (48th percentile), flooding (33th percentile), earthquake (20th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 68th 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 Jefferson County risk compare to the Kansas average?
Jefferson County's composite risk percentile is 20th, compared to the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Jefferson County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kansas.
Is Jefferson County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Jefferson County's wildfire risk is at the 68th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Jefferson County is at the 33th 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.
Is Jefferson County a safe place to live?
Jefferson County's composite risk score of 20th percentile is below the Kansas state average of 30th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 68th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Norton County

Kansas

+0.1

Very Low

20th percentile

Cloud County

Kansas

+0.5

Very Low

20th percentile

Comanche County

Kansas

+0.6

Very Low

20th 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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