Key facts: Wichita
- Wichita grew on flat ground where the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers meet, and it flooded at least seven times between 1877 and 1955, three of them within eleven days in 1944.[1]
- The Wichita-Valley Center Floodway, finished in 1958 and known locally as the Big Ditch, moves Arkansas River water around the west-central city.[1]
- Today's water calls more often come from spring and summer thunderstorms, which can carry large hail.[2]
The Big Ditch reduced the risk, not the rain
The Wichita-Valley Center Floodway, finished in 1958 and known locally as the Big Ditch, moves Arkansas River water around the west-central city.[1] Today's water calls more often come from spring and summer thunderstorms, which can carry large hail.[2] Hail opens shingles, then the next rain finds the hole.
A closer look in Wichita
Attic leaks in 1950s ranch homes
A ranch home has little between the roof and the room. Wet insulation holds water against the ceiling, so a small stain can hide a large soaked area. Look near the attic hatch with a flashlight, then call before the drywall sags.
Flood claims recorded in Sedgwick County
Wichita sits in Sedgwick County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 990 |
| Year with the most claims | 1998 (117) |
| Largest named event | Hurricane Ike (73) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 29% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 63% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Wichita claim record shows
For Wichita homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Sedgwick County claims: Hurricane Ike (73 claims), Midwest Flooding (23 claims) and Thunderstorms (14 claims).
About 29% of claims with a recorded zone came from outside the high-risk A and V zones, so a moderate-risk label does not mean a Wichita home stays dry.
If your Wichita home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 63% of county claims with a known build date. Many predate current flood maps, so inspect low outlets, ductwork and subfloors closely after any water event.
Federal disaster history for Sedgwick County
FEMA lists 18 federal declarations covering Sedgwick County. The most common types are severe storm (8), flood (3) and biological (2). The latest are Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020, Covid-19 in 2020 and Severe Storms and Flooding in 2009. Federal aid can open after a declaration, so Wichita owners should look it up before discarding damaged items.
Wichita weather and your home
Weather records for Wichita from 2015 through 2024 average 34 inches of precipitation a year, and May and June are the wettest months. The area averages 6.8 days a year with an inch or more.
Wichita falls to 20°F or below on about 20 nights a year, which puts pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages at risk.
When rain falls in Wichita
Seasonal averages for Wichita, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 4.9 in | 14% |
| April to June | 14.5 in | 42% |
| July to September | 8.4 in | 24% |
| October to December | 6.6 in | 19% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Wichita home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 17% of Sedgwick County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Insulate exposed pipes before 20-plus hard-freeze nights arrive, and know your main shutoff.
- Check roof flashing and drains before May, the wettest month in Wichita.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Hurricane Ike, 73 insured Sedgwick County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Wichita contractor
- Whether hail or wind hit the roof
- Whether the insulation is wet
- Which town you are in
Services Wichita callers ask about
Questions
Wichita water damage questions
Does home insurance cover hail leaks in Wichita?
Wind and hail are commonly covered, but rising flood water generally is not, and NFIP policies usually take 30 days to begin.[3]
Which towns do you cover near Wichita?
Coverage on file includes Derby, Haysville, Maize, Valley Center, Goddard and Mulvane.