Natural hazards · Waco

Waco, KS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waco comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Waco?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waco to be higher than in 72% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding49%Tornadoes18%Cold waves18%Heat waves7%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Waco faces

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

Inland flooding

49% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

7% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 14 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Waco flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Waco.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Waco isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Sedgwick County.

Disasters that hit Waco

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WacoDeclared for Sedgwick County only

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

$35K to the Township of Waco for repairs

2005

Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding

$1K to the Township of Waco for repairs

Sedgwick County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Waco

Waco and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Ohiomostly inland floodingHigh

Riversidemostly inland floodingHigh

Wacomostly inland floodingHigh

Wichitamostly inland floodingModerate

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. Waco covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waco’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Waco. 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 Waco total about $2.0M 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.