Rice County
Kansas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 29th
Rice County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 28.5, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Medium | 11.04 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $473K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $342K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 11.95 / yr | $116K |
| Drought | Low | 50.17 / yr | $406K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.85 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.53 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.84 / yr | $343K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 7.01 / yr | $537K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $34K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 46.07 / yr | $47K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $4 |
| 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 Rice County?
Rice County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 28.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 29th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rice County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $2M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $473K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $342K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rice County compare to other Kansas counties?
Rice County ranks #45 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. Rice County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.