Ness County
Kansas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 11th
Ness County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.5, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 59.58 / yr | $717K |
| Hail | Medium | 10.35 / yr | $628K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $47K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.74 / yr | $55K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.52 / yr | $62K |
| Tornado | Low | 1.25 / yr | $790K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.10 / yr | $311K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.63 / yr | $394K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 44.74 / yr | $28K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $14 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.37 / yr | $6K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ness County?
Ness County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ness County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $717K EAL), Hail (Medium, $628K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $47K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ness County compare to other Kansas counties?
Ness County ranks #84 of 105 Kansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Ness County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.