Enter any address in Cherokee County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Cherokee County, KS. Between 1994 and 2024, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 129 flash flood events and 29 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 6, 2025, following heavy rainfall, and on May 26, 2024, and August 9, 2023, both linked to thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 69 claims, with an average payout of $15,705 and an average water depth of 6.4 feet. Properties in Zone X have seen fewer claims (2), but with a higher average payout of $23,771 and an average water depth of 19.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X where deeper flooding has been recorded, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cherokee County, Kansas has recorded 158 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 129 flash floods and 29 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Tornadoes And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 9, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,landslides,and Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Snowstorm | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2015 |
| 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, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 7, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 6, 2025
A round of thunderstorms produced very heavy rainfall rates which led to flooding in Cherokee county on the morning of June 6th.
Flash Flood — May 26, 2024
A shortwave trough approached southeast Kansas on May 25, 2024, priming the atmosphere for moderate instability and sufficient deep layer shear. Additionally a low level jet around 45 to 50 knots nosed into the area during the late evening hours and into the early morning hours of May 26, 2024, further amplifying low level flow into the region. As a result, supercell thunderstorms developed and...
Flash Flood — Aug 9, 2023
After a broad area of rain moved through the region earlier in the day, a boundary sagged slowly south through southeastern Kansas. This boundary became the focus for rounds of rain and storms producing isolated flooding.
Flash Flood — May 4, 2022
Thunderstorms produced between 4 and 6 inches of rainfall leading to flooding across southeastern Kansas.
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2021
Isolated thunderstorms produced heavy rain which caused localized flooding.
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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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.