Natural hazards · Waterville

Waterville, KS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waterville comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 1 federal disaster brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Waterville?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waterville to be higher than in 63% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding49%Tornadoes18%Strong wind11%Wildfire6%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Waterville 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

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Strong wind

11% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Wildfire

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Waterville flood?

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

Disasters that hit Waterville

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WatervilleDeclared for Marshall County only

2009

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm

$11K to the Township of Waterville for repairs

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

Around Waterville

Waterville and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Watervillemostly inland floodingHigh

Blue Rapids Citymostly inland floodingHigh

Walnutmostly inland floodingHigh

Cottage Hillmostly inland floodingHigh

Barnesmostly 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. Waterville covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waterville’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Waterville. 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 Waterville total about $1.7M 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.