riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Riley County Disaster Risk

Riley County, Kansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

58th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#16

of 105 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

60th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Riley County

Risk Verdict

Riley County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 58th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Riley County, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 84th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (60th), earthquake (33th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Riley 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

Riley County is significantly riskier than the average county in Kansas. Its composite risk score is 28.6 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Riley County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Riley County, KS?
Riley County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 58th 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 Riley County?
Riley County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (90th percentile), tornado (84th percentile), flooding (60th percentile), earthquake (33th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 90th 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 Riley County risk compare to the Kansas average?
Riley County's composite risk percentile is 58th, compared to the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Riley County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kansas.
Is Riley County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Riley County's wildfire risk is at the 90th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Riley County is at the 60th 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 Riley County higher risk than average?
Riley County's composite risk score of 58th percentile is above the Kansas state average of 30th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (90th percentile), along with tornado and flooding 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

Barton County

Kansas

+1.8

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Pratt County

Kansas

-3.6

Relatively Low

55th percentile

Cherokee County

Kansas

-4.8

Relatively Low

54th 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.

Explore more data for Riley County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score