Dickinson County, KS Environment & Hazard Risk

• Ice stormRelatively High$709K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$640K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 840 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1.84M/yr expected annual loss, about 13 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$245K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$796K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.8 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.21M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.9 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• DroughtRelatively Low$156K/yr expected annual loss, about 20 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$992/yr expected annual loss, about once every 8 years
• LightningRelatively Low$195K/yr expected annual loss, about 49 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$51.31K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,481 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$345K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.5 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

57 of 11,039 (0.5%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

60

Insured in high-risk zones

46 (77%)

Flood claims since 1978

86

Claims paid since 1978

$174K

• Hail395
• Thunderstorm Wind220
• Flash Flood44 · 1 death
• Winter Storm42 · 1 death
• Tornado22 · 1 death
• High Wind20
• Winter Weather18 · 5 deaths
• Flood17
• Heat11
• Drought11

• Winter Weather12/26/2017

  Dickinson

  4 deaths

  What happened

  Just before 10am local time, a pickup truck traveling west on interstate 70 struck a guardrail near Abilene, KS and traveled along and on top of the rail before falling around 25 feet off of a bridge coming to rest on its top. All 4 inside the vehicle were killed. The snow reduced visibility to around 1/2 to 1 mile at times. A winter weather advisory was in effect and 1 to 2 inches of snow fell during this event.

• TornadoEF3, 12.9 mi path, 880 yd wide06/12/2008

  Enterprise, Dickinson County

  1 death, 3 injured, $20.2M damage

  What happened

  This is the first segment of a tornado that moved through 2 counties. This tornado continued northeast out of Dickinson County and dissipated shortly after entering Geary County. The tornado first touched down at a farmstead to the north-northwest of the town of Enterprise. A grain bin was destroyed, and some tree damage was observed. Damage was also noted to another farmstead where a grain bin was destroyed, as were a center pivot and several power poles. The tornado then entered Chapman on the southwest side. It was reported that 70 homes were completely destroyed, and 215 damaged. In all, three-quarters of the buildings in town sustained damage. Two churches were demolished. The town's middle school and high school were both severely damaged. Approximately 100 residents were in the locker rooms of the high school seeking shelter from the storm when the tornado struck. Trees across town were twisted and nearly stripped of their leaves and branches. For the most part, the downtown business section received only minor damage. Once outside the town, another farmstead was hit which damaged trees and outbuildings before lifting to the northeast of town. Debris from the town was...

• Flash Flood06/03/2005

  Hope, Dickinson County

  1 death, $300K damage

  What happened

  Six inches of fast flowing water over roads 6 miles south of Hope. One fatality occurred when a 37 year old man was swept away by rapidly flowing water after he exited his truck when the right front tire dropped off a low water bridge.

• Winter Storm12/11/2000

  Dickinson

  1 death

  What happened

  A slick roadway caused by snow and ice resulted in a one vehicle accident 8 miles north of Abilene that killed the female driver.

• Winter Weather01/31/2007

  Dickinson

  1 death

  What happened

  Although this snow episode produced no more than three inches of snow, temperatures were just cold enough to produce very hazardous driving conditions. Numerous accidents and a number of injuries were reported. One accident produced an indirect fatality on Interstate 70 near the Dickinson-Geary county line when a vehicle went out of control on the slick surface and rolled over. Snowfall ranged up to an inch along and just south of Interstate 70 and one to three inches along and southeast of the Kansas Turnpike.

• TornadoEF4, 21.61 mi path, 900 yd wide05/26/2016

  Solomon, Dickinson County

  5 injured

  What happened

  The long track violent tornado began 1-2 miles NNE of Niles Kansas and destroyed 2 homes in Ottawa county before crossing into Dickinson county north of Solomon. The tornado tracked 2-3 miles north of the city of Abilene following a meandering path approximately east along 2700 avenue in Dickinson county before veering southeast and crossing interstate 70 approx. 2 miles west of the city of Chapman. The tornado then moved ESE and then east along a path around 1 mile south of Chapman destroying 1 farmstead and several other homes in the area. The worst damage was done to a farmstead 1 mile southwest of Chapman along old highway 40 where the home was destroyed and all outbuildings were blown away. The sub floor of the home was removed from a bolted sill plate and the poured concrete foundation was cracked on the south side exposing the rebar where the strongest forces from the lifting structure occurred as it was being removed and blown away likely occurred. Much of the brick facade of the home did remain where it fell around the structure however so the area was not swept clean. Winds approaching 200 mph were likely in this area while a woman home at the time took shelter...

• Flash Flood06/11/2026

  Chapman, Dickinson County

  $30K damage

• Flash Flood06/11/2026

  Detroit, Dickinson County

  $95K damage

• Hail1" hail06/11/2026

  Herington, Dickinson County

• Flash Flood06/11/2026

  Abilene, Dickinson County

  $30K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/11/2026

  Upland, Dickinson County

• Hail1.75" hail06/11/2026

  Upland, Dickinson County

• TornadoEF1, 0.46 mi path, 75 yd wide06/11/2026

  Shady Brook, Dickinson County

• Flash Flood06/11/2026

  Moonlight, Dickinson County

  $50K damage

• Abilene, City ofServes 6,468 · Groundwater (surface influenced) · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Herington, City ofServes 2,332 · Surface water · Local government3 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Dickinson Co Rwd 2Serves 1,703 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Chapman, City ofServes 1,377 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Solomon, City ofServes 993 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Dickinson Co Rwd 1Serves 879 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Enterprise, City ofServes 714 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Hope, City ofServes 312 · Purchased surface water · Local government9 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting