riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Pottawatomie County Disaster Risk

Pottawatomie County, Kansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

31th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#43

of 105 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

34th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 34% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Pottawatomie County

Risk Verdict

Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 57th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (34th), earthquake (21th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Pottawatomie 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

Pottawatomie County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Kansas. Its composite risk score is within 1 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 Pottawatomie County, KS?
Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County?
Pottawatomie County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (91th percentile), tornado (57th percentile), flooding (34th percentile), earthquake (21th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 91th 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 Pottawatomie County risk compare to the Kansas average?
Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kansas.
Is Pottawatomie County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Pottawatomie County's wildfire risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Pottawatomie County is at the 34th 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 Pottawatomie County higher risk than average?
Pottawatomie 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 (91th 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

Harper County

Kansas

+0.4

Very Low

31th percentile

Pawnee County

Kansas

+0.7

Very Low

32th percentile

Mitchell County

Kansas

-1.0

Very Low

30th 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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