Enter any address in Riley County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from scattered storms dominates Riley County's flood events. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 43 flash flood events compared to 6 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding reported on July 26, 2020, following strong thunderstorms, and on May 17, 2022, when storms produced hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while Zone A areas have had the most claims, properties in Zone X areas have experienced higher average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in Zone X, particularly those in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk, as well as those in Zone A and any properties located near waterways.
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.
Riley County, Kansas has recorded 49 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 43 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1966–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| 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 | Sep 1, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 7, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 22, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2025 | 40.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 17, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2018 | 17.20M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 26, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 28, 2025
In the late afternoon to evening hours, scattered storms developed and trained across portions of northeast Kansas, leading to isolated reports of Flash Flooding with up to 5 inches of rainfall reported. These storms also produced hail to baseball size, wind gusts to 70 mph, and a brief tornado in Pottawatomie county.
Flash Flood — May 17, 2022
Two large clusters of storms formed into a large QLCS and produced hail, damaging wind to as high as 85 mph, and flash flooding during the evening of 5/17.
Flash Flood — Jul 26, 2020
Flash flooding occurred in several counties following a batch of strong thunderstorms in north-central KS. An isolated storm in Franklin County also caused flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 4, 2019
Slow moving, nocturnal convection resulted in multiple reports of flash-flooding during the early morning hours of July 4th.
Flash Flood — Sep 3, 2018
Several rounds of thunderstorms along a stationary frontal boundary resulted in significant flash-flooding in portions of Riley, Marshall, and Pottawatomie Counties. Numerous damaging wind reports were noted as well.
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 Riley 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 Riley 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.