Enter any address in Harvey County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Harvey County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 37 flood and flash flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 25, 2021, when storms produced 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour, and widespread flooding on May 8, 2019, following heavy rainfall on saturated ground.
NFIP claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most flood events, with 286 claims averaging over $8,000 and water depths of 2.6 feet. While fewer claims have been filed in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED, these areas have also seen flood damage. Properties in Zone X, despite having an average water depth of 0.0 feet in claims, have the highest average payout at over $20,000, indicating potential for significant damage even with minimal visible water.
Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in other mapped flood zones, should pay close attention to flood risk. Residents in areas with a history of flash flooding, particularly those near waterways or in low-lying areas, should also be aware of their potential exposure.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Harvey County, Kansas has recorded 37 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 20 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2024 |
| Cottonwood Fire Complex | Fire | Mar 5, 2022 |
| 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 Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 4, 2018 |
| 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 |
| Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Feb 20, 2013 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 8, 2019 | 0.10K |
| Flood | Oct 9, 2018 | 0.20K |
| Flood | Oct 9, 2018 | 0.10K |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | 0.10K |
| Flood | Sep 5, 2018 | 0.10K |
| Flood | Mar 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 18, 2023
During the afternoon of June 17th, 2023, a line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed across the High Plains (eastern Colorado and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles) and quickly progressed eastward through the late afternoon and evening hours. Storms entered portions of central and south-central Kansas around sunset and produced primarily damaging winds around 60 to 80 mph as they swept a...
Flash Flood — Jun 25, 2021
An extremely moist airmass was in place as storms erupted along a stationary front during the afternoon hours. Due to the high moisture content of the airmass, the storms were very efficient rainfall producers with some producing 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour. Marion County saw the most impactful flooding with numerous evacuations and water rescues taking place across the county. Southeast Kan...
Flash Flood — May 26, 2019
Clusters of thunderstorms with heavy rains caused further flash flooding in parts of South & Southeast Kansas in the morning on the 26th. Thunderstorms that had occurred the previous evening produced, on average, up to around 3 inches of rain. The renewed thunderstorms that occurred the following morning produced another 1 to 3 inches this morning.
Flash Flood — May 25, 2019
A prolonged period of severe thunderstorms that produced a grand slam of flash floods, large hail, damaging winds & even a couple tornadoes hit nearly all of the Wichita (ICT) County Warning Area (CWA) throughout the afternoon & night on the 24th. Of the severe thunderstorm modes, floods & flash floods proved to be, by far, the greatest threat to these areas. The flash flooding continued across...
Flood — May 8, 2019
A stalled frontal boundary was draped across portions of Kansas during the day on May 7th, 2019 ahead of an approaching storm system. Widespread showers and thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall developed across the area. These storms inundated areas that were already saturated from recent rainfall resulting in widespread flooding across south central Kansas. ||Significant flash flooding occur...
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 Harvey 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 Harvey 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.