In Kansas, many of our qualifying disasters are tornado-related, but that doesn’t exclude other deadly events from causing destruction. In the Sunflower State, sometimes there are gorgeous, clear skies, and other times, Mother Nature gives us all she’s got. We may be brave in the face of dark skies, but sometimes you can’t expect everything. How many of these devastating Kansas natural disasters have you heard of or lived through?

1. 1867 Earthquake - Manhattan, KS
Manhattan, KS, USA
Wikimedia
In Manhattan, Kansas, a 5.1 earthquake struck and was felt in an area of almost 200,000 square miles. It didn't cause too much damage, other than fractured walls and fallen chimneys. No one died, but there were definitely injuries reported. I'm sure the china cabinet was hurt the worst, though!
2. 1875 Swarm of Locusts
Frank Longwill/Flickr
In a few areas during the month of August 1875, the rocky mountain locust swarm covered 198,000 square miles in the Kansas. With numbers reaching the trillions, there's no other recorded swarm that large in history. Only hours after they arrived, large areas of crops were reduced to twigs and stems. By the end of June, they were gone.
3. 1935 Dust Bowl
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr
During a devastating dust bowl in 1935, on a day that is now called Black Sunday, winds up to 60mph blew topsoil across the Midwest. Some residents gave up (I don't blame them!) but others worked to make miles of windbreaks and change how we treated our cropland.

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4. The Great Flood of 1951
Manhattan, KS, USA
Marion Doss/Flickr
What was then only $935 million in damage would be over $8 billion today. This flood roared from Manhattan, all the way through Topeka, Lawrence, and eventually into Kansas City. When all was said and done the flood only killed only 17 people, but displaced thousands. Precautions after this event kept the flood of 1993 from causing as much destruction.
5. 1965 Piatt St. Planecrash - Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS, USA
C. Tordesillas/Wikimedia Commons
In 1965, a KC-135 refuelling tanker (top right) crashed into the ground in a predominantly black neighborhood in northeast Wichita. 30 casualties happened almost instantly as thousands of gallons of jet fuel and fire rained around the site.
6. Ice Storm, January 2007
K-State Research and Extension/Flickr
Across the Midwest in January of 2007, ice started accumulating on trees, power lines, and anything else it could touch. Power went down for days in some areas, and trees everywhere fell apart from the weight of the ice. Some places even reported up to an inch of ice coating some of the structures outside. Althojugh only at least three deaths were reported from this event, the damage was very widespread across Kansas.
7. Greensburg tornado, May 2007
Greensburg, KS 67054, USA
Greg Henshall/FEMA/WikimediaCommons
In May of that same year, there were 129 confirmed tornadoes. One of these, an 5F, killed 11, greatly wounded 216, and leveled 95% of Greensburg, Kansas. After it had passed, the entire town was deemed unsafe, and anyone able to leave was evacuated.

Though plenty of tornadoes pass through Kansas without touching anyone, some of these natural disasters seemed to aim right for humanity. Have you heard any other tales of terrible disasters here in Kansas? If so, let us know below! Looking for other tornadoes? The History Of Tornadoes In Kansas Will Shock You.

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Kansas Natural Disasters

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | June 05, 2022

Can you suggest a unique accommodation option in Kansas?

You can repurpose just about anything these days and there are a lot of creative people out there! In the beautiful Kansas Flint Hills, you can lodge in a reimagined grain bin that is now an Airbnb. The proprietors have added some amazing soaring glass walls so that guests can take in the surrounding prairie land without leaving “home.”

I’m interested in historic sites in Kansas. Where should I start looking?

You’re in luck! There is a really cool and interesting road trip that takes you to places like the Fort Larned National Historic Site in Larned, the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, and the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site in Olathe. This is just the beginning of all the fun along the route.

Where can I learn about Amelia Earhart?

Amelia Earhart, the famous aviator, was born in Kansas. Her life and legacy are showcased at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in beautiful Atchison, Kansas where she was born on July 24, 1897. In addition to preserving her amazing history, the museum also does a wonderful job of recognizing and honoring the contributions that so many women have made in the field of aeronautics.

Are there any Wizard of Oz attractions in Kansas?

But of course! The movie that put Kansas in the eye of the nation and beyond has translated into several fun and funky Wizard of Oz attractions in The Sunflower State. There is an “Oztober Fest” in the town of Wamego, Dorothy's House & Land of Oz is found in Liberal, and you can walk along the yellow brick road in Sedan. The latter also hosts an annual Yellow Brick Road Festival.

What are some of the best tourist spots along Interstate 70?

Running the entire length of the state from east to west, Interstate 70 is peppered with great tourist spots. One of them is the Rolling Hills Zoo. Although not as big as the other more well-known zoos in the state, this one in Salina is definitely worth a visit. In the town of Wilson, a former Midland Railroad Hotel was one of the Midwest’s premier hotels for decades after it was built in 1899, and continues to draw folks here for a comfortable and historic stay.

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