Enter any address in Sherman County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms dominates Sherman County's flood events. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 43 flash flood events and 13 general flood events. Recent examples include localized flash flooding in northeastern Sherman County on June 15, 2023, following torrential rainfall from scattered storms. On August 7, 2023, heavy rainfall associated with severe thunderstorms also led to flash flooding in the region.
Residents in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those in locations that have experienced flooding in the past, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sherman County, Kansas has recorded 56 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 43 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (2005–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Snowstorm | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Dec 6, 2007 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Dec 28, 2006 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 17, 2023 | 0.01K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2023
In the early afternoon of the 30th, storms from Colorado crossed into Kansas along I-70. These storms caused widespread wind damage and up to 2 inch in diameter hail. The highest measured wind gust was 79.4 mph at Hill City and then the station promptly stopped reporting winds. One injury did occur when a vehicle was blown off of the road. Torrential rainfall also lead to localized flash flooding.
Flood — May 17, 2023
In the late afternoon a slow moving, heavy rain producing thunderstorm was moving southeast across southwestern Nebraska and into Northwest Kansas. The heavy rain caused some county roads to be flooded in lower elevations for at least a day while the storm did produce a 60 mph wind gust as it move through the area.
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2023
In the early morning hours of the 15th, scattered showers began to slowly intensify into weak storms. In the early afternoon some of the scattered storms began producing small hail, with the largest stones falling in Sherman county being nickel sized. Torrential rainfall also occurred with these storms, which lead to localized flash flooding in northeastern Sherman County.
Flash Flood — Aug 7, 2023
During the late afternoon and evening hours of August 7th, a frontal boundary moved across Northwestern Kansas allowing for showers and thunderstorms to develop within the region. Some of these thunderstorms became severe and produced large hail up to softballs in size, a brief landspout, damaging wind gusts up to an estimated 70 mph, and heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding. Winds from the...
Flood — Jun 7, 2022
Two small lines of storms moved across Northwest Kansas during the evening hours producing thunderstorm wind gusts with damage and large hail up to the size of baseballs. Initially an isolated storm moved into northwest Wallace and Sherman counties from Colorado, producing up to egg sized hail. A line of storms moved southeast into Rawlins and Decatur counties from extreme Southwest Nebraska an...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Sherman 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 Sherman 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.