Kansas Earthquake Risk Rated Low

When it comes to the threat of damage and chaos from disasters in Kansas, earthquakes rank nearly at the bottom of the state’s list of concerns.

Earthquakes rank 21st out of 22 potential hazards listed in the official state response plan by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. Only fog is a lower threat than earthquakes, though the misty shrouds are more frequently found in Kansas.

The recent spate of earthquakes in Oklahoma was felt throughout southern Kansas and as far north as the Kansas City metro area with little or no damage reported.

Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, state adjutant general, said the state’s frequent tornadoes and flooding — the top two hazards in the state — give Kansas ample opportunity to train, equip and plan for the types of damage and injuries that could be caused by strong seismic activity.

“Many of the functions are the same,” Tafanelli said. “There’s no prevention to it.”

According to the state response plan, Kansas ranks 45th among states in the amount of damage caused by earthquakes each year, with the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area ranking 35th among 35 major metro areas in the country.

Kansas is bisected by the Humboldt fault zone running from north of Oklahoma City into southern Nebraska. It passes east of Manhattan where the biggest earthquakes ever recorded in the state occurred. There have been more than 210 earthquakes felt in Kansas since 1867, with the strongest coming in April 1867, when a magnitude 5.5 quake hit near Wamego, causing structural damage in Manhattan and nearby communities.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger said residents worried about protecting their homes and other belongings need to purchase a rider for their policies as most insurance plans don’t cover earthquakes.

That includes homeowner and automobile coverage, Praeger said.

Tafanelli said the earthquakes were a good reminder to Kansas residents about the importance of taking their own steps to be prepared. That includes having a home disaster plan and preparedness kit with food, water, flashlights, batteries, medications, first aid supplies and copies of any documents that may be necessary.