Norton County

Kansas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

19.8

National percentile: 20th

Norton County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.8, 20th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $6M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 5K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Medium $2M/yr
Drought
Medium $1M/yr
Strong Wind
Medium $728K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Medium 7.70 / yr $2M
Drought Medium 73.99 / yr $1M
Strong Wind Medium 4.12 / yr $728K
Winter Weather Medium 11.68 / yr $86K
Ice Storm Low 0.36 / yr $92K
Tornado Low 0.73 / yr $1M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $13K
Cold Wave Low 4.53 / yr $309K
Heat Wave Very Low 4.89 / yr $78K
Lightning Very Low 43.38 / yr $66K
Landslide Very Low 0.31 / yr $97
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.43 / yr $1M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $8K
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 Norton County?

Norton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 20th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Norton County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $2M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $728K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Norton County compare to other Kansas counties?

Norton County ranks #56 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. Norton County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.