Enter any address in Bourbon County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Bourbon County. Between 2004 and 2024, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 71 flash flood events and 10 general flood events. For example, heavy rainfall associated with a strong storm system caused flooding on April 20, 2025, after the area had already received significant rain. Another instance occurred on April 27, 2024, when storms produced local flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $36,400 and an average water depth of 3.5 feet. However, a single claim in Zone X_SHADED reported a much higher average payout of $400,000 with an average water depth of 6.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X_SHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bourbon County, Kansas has recorded 81 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 71 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 18, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,landslides,and Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 22, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2009 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 8, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 22, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 30, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 22, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 20, 2025
A strong storm system moved through the area on Sunday April 20th, 2025. This system brought tornadoes, damaging wind, large hail and heavy rain. The heavy rainfall led to flooding as the area had already received heavy rainfall from the previous week.
Flash Flood — Apr 27, 2024
A third day of storms with locally heavy rainfall and isolated severe storms produced local flooding and hail to the size of pennies.
Flash Flood — Apr 25, 2024
Heavy rainfall from several rounds of storms lead to flash flooding of small creeks and streams.
Flood — Mar 13, 2021
Heavy rainfall from storms along a slow moving front produced localized flooding.
Flash Flood — May 22, 2020
Storms, associated with a meso-scale convective system, developed over western Kansas during the late afternoon of the 21st and moved to the east-southeast from mid-morning through late afternoon. Isolated accumulations over one and a half inches were observed over southeast Kansas.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Bourbon County, Kansas:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Bourbon County, Kansas that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.