Natural hazards · Independence

Independence, KS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Independence comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 92 claims here since 1978. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Independence?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Independence to be higher than in 80% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding54%Tornadoes16%Cold waves16%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Independence faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

54% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Cold waves

16% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 36% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Independence flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Independence, from FEMA’s records.

92paid claims since 1978

$2.1Mpaid to owners

8homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Thunderstorms: 38 claims, $1.5M

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Independence is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Montgomery County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

104flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

2storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Independence

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Independence itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Independence.

Brought FEMA money into IndependenceDeclared for Montgomery County only

2019

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,landslides,and Mudslides

$191K to the City of Independence for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$55K to the City of Independence for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

377 households applied for aid $2.5M aid approved $4.7M to the City of Independence for repairs

2002

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$39K to the City of Independence for repairs

Montgomery County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Independence

Independence and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Independencemostly inland floodingVery high

Sycamoremostly inland floodingHigh

Drum Creekmostly inland floodingHigh

Independencemostly inland floodingHigh

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Independence covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Independence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Independence. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Independence total about $2.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.