Natural hazards · McPherson

McPherson, KS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in McPherson comes from tornadoes, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1979. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is McPherson?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in McPherson to be higher than in 28% of U.S. communities, mostly from tornadoes and inland flooding.

Tornadoes32%Inland flooding24%Cold waves12%Strong wind10%Ice storms6%Heat waves6%Everything else10%

By hazard

What McPherson faces

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

Tornadoes

32% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

24% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 16% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

12% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 31% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Ice storms

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about 12 times a year in the area

Lower here

Winter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesLandslidesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 McPherson flood?

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

9paid claims since 1979

$59Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 2 claims, $1K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. McPherson is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: McPherson County.

Disasters that hit McPherson

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into McPhersonDeclared for McPherson County only

2019

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

$163K to the City of McPherson for repairs

2013

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

$38K to the City of McPherson for repairs

2013

Snowstorm

$11K to the City of McPherson for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$116K to the City of McPherson for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

12 households applied for aid $43K aid approved

2005

Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding

$7K to the City of McPherson for repairs

McPherson County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around McPherson

McPherson and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

King Citymostly inland floodingHigh

Jacksonmostly inland floodingHigh

McPhersonmostly tornadoesModerate

McPhersonmostly tornadoesLow

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. McPherson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to McPherson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of McPherson. 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 McPherson total about $1.0M 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.