Enter any address in Reno County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from widespread thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Reno County. Between 2014 and 2024, NOAA data recorded 32 flood events and 24 flash flood events, with one recorded fatality. Recent events include widespread flooding across south central Kansas in May 2019 following heavy rainfall from stalled frontal boundaries, and scattered thunderstorms causing flooding in June 2023.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $12,735 and an average water depth of 3.2 feet. Claims in Zone X and Zone UNKNOWN also indicate flood risk, with average payouts of $3,541 and $6,709 respectively. Residents in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and Zone UNKNOWN, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Reno County, Kansas has recorded 56 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 32 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 18, 2025 |
| 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 |
| Highland Hills Fire | Fire | Mar 4, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 22, 2013 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 21, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2019 | 40.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2019 | 0.10K |
| Flood | May 5, 2019 | 0.10K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | 0.50K |
Flash Flood — Jun 23, 2025
Widely scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours of June 23rd across portions of central and south central Kansas. These storms moved north and northeast through the evening hours with additional development through the overnight hours. These storms resulted in hail, wind and flooding reports.
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 21, 2019
An intense upper level system surged northeast across Kansas that brought an equally intense surface cyclone across the state in the afternoon. There was a moisture-rich environment entrenched across Kansas. This combined with the powerful cyclone crossing the state, numerous thunderstorms, several of which were severe, produced torrential rains that caused major flooding and flash flooding fr...
Flash 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...
Flood — May 7, 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 Reno 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 Reno 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.