Enter any address in Pawnee County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Pawnee County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 16 flood events and 4 flash flood events. For example, heavy rain rates fell across the county in July 2025 due to early morning thunderstorms. More recently, a flood event occurred in May 2019 as an unstable airmass and an approaching upper-level shortwave initiated thunderstorms, with forcing along a warm front enhancing rainfall in southeast counties.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of $1,036 in payouts with an average water depth of -1.8 feet. In contrast, properties in Zone X_Unshaded have seen higher average payouts of $2,786 with an average water depth of 0.7 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_Unshaded should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
1 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Pawnee County, Kansas has recorded 20 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 4 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 28 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 (1965–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 26, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 14, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Straight-line Winds | Snowstorm | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 15, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 2, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 16, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 23, 2008 | 0.10K |
Flash Flood — Jul 25, 2025
During the very early morning thunderstorms developed along a surface boundary. Supported my low/mid level warm and moisture advection, a lot of rain was quickly able to drop heavy rain rates across Kiowa, Pawnee, and Pratt counties.
Flood — Jun 21, 2020
A shortwave trough moved across the CWA with the surface boundary again along the I-70 corridor initiating a number of severe storms that pushed southeast through the afternoon and evening hours. Severe hail and winds were the primary threat but tornadoes were possible in the QLCS scenario, but none were reported.
Flood — May 25, 2019
A s/wv trough initiated thunderstorms across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and this activity spread northeast across the area.
Flood — May 7, 2019
An unstable airmass and the approach of an upper level shortwave helped to initiate thunderstorms. Forcing along a warm front near the southeast counties enhanced the rainfall at many locations.
Flash Flood — Apr 15, 2017
Thunderstorms developed along a weak cold front during the afternoon. A low pressure center in the Oklahoma panhandle helped lift moist air north interacting with the front. Behind the front upslope flow promoted additional thunderstorm activity.
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 Pawnee 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 Pawnee 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.