Enter any address in Douglas County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Douglas County, Kansas. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 59 flash flood events and 14 flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding in July 2025 following a line of storms, and widespread flash flooding in July 2024 due to two to five inches of rainfall, with localized amounts up to ten inches.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $13,226 and an average water depth of 1.9 feet. Properties in Zone X also show significant claims, with an average payout of $22,534, though with a lower average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Douglas County, Kansas has recorded 73 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 59 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 (1967–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Dec 6, 2007 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2007 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight Line Winds | Severe Storm | Mar 12, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 4, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2025
A line of storms produced damaging winds and flash flooding as it moved across eastern Kansas early morning on July 17.
Flood — Jul 1, 2024
Widespread rainfall of two to five inches, with localized amounts of up to ten inches, produced multiple instances of flash flooding across east-central Kansas.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2023
Thunderstorms developed into a QLCS during the afternoon of July 14th and produced widespread wind damage across the area. Winds exceeded 70 mph at times.
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2021
Flash flooding was the result of heavy rainfall in Douglas County during the morning hours of 6/30.
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2021
Scattered storm initially developed along a front and evolved into a nighttime complex of storms producing a few hail, wind and flash flooding reports.
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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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.