Enter any address in Russell County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Russell County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 16 flood events and 14 flash flood events in the county. For example, heavy rainfall from severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding in Russell County on May 25, 2020, with reports of 3 to 6.59 inches of rain. More recently, storms on June 5, 2022, produced flash flooding across central Kansas, impacting Russell County.
Residents in areas with a history of flooding, particularly those located near waterways or in zones with higher flood risk, should pay close attention to flood advisories and warnings.
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.
Russell County, Kansas has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 16 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 (1973–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 14, 2023 |
| 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 |
| Ellsworth-lincoln-russell Fire Complex | Fire | Mar 4, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 13, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 2, 2016 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 5, 2022 | 0.50K |
| Flood | May 26, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 30, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | 0.10K |
| Flood | Sep 4, 2018 | 100.00K |
| Flood | May 29, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 13, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 5, 2022
A complex of storms initially developed across central Kansas during the evening hours or June 5th, 2022. The storms initially produced damaging winds, flash flooding and large hail across central Kansas, before propagating to the south, producing damaging winds and flooding across south central Kansas during the late evening hours.
Flood — May 26, 2021
This event broke the tornado drought for the NWS Wichita office of 611 days. Storms developed during the late afternoon hours on Wednesday, May 26th over Central Kansas near a warm front. A very moist and unstable air mass was in place which allowed storms to rapidly become severe, producing hail up to baseball size along with a few brief tornadoes. The strongest tornado caused some damage acro...
Flash Flood — May 16, 2021
Storms initially producing very heavy rains across central Kansas produced flooding for several locations. The next round of storms didn't produce quite as much rain, however, did spawn severe winds and hail.
Flash Flood — May 25, 2020
Severe thunderstorms moved across central Kansas during the evening of May 24th. These storms produced quarter to half dollar sized hail and damaging winds. Heavy rainfall associated with these storms resulted in flash flooding in Ellsworth, Russell and Saline counties. Some of the higher reports ranged from 3 inches to 6.59 inches.
Flood — Aug 25, 2019
Late in evening on the 24th, severe thunderstorms broke out across Central Kansas. The severe thunderstorms produced a trifecta of hail as large as golf balls, winds that reached around 70 mph, and torrential rains that caused flooding and flash flooding. The most significant flooding and flash flooding occurred in Southwest Barton County where several tributaries overflowed requiring sandbaggi...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Russell 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 Russell 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.