Alamosa County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Alamosa County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $484 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4,195 on 18 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Alamosa County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 43.7 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 82.5 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 91.3 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 58.2 | $826K | ||
| Avalanche | 83.3 | $457K | ||
| Lightning | 65.4 | $263K | ||
| Hail | 47.3 | $148K | ||
| Tornado | 16.6 | $109K | ||
| Wildfire | 62.3 | $62K | ||
| Winter weather | 49.6 | $40K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.2 | $23K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.5 | $13K | ||
| Ice storm | 18.7 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 38.1 | $363 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Alamosa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 52 storm reports in Alamosa County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 10, 1955.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 19, 1995 | F1 | Alamosa | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 2008 | EF1 | Mosca | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 1956 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1982 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 1993 | Hail | Alamosa | $1M |
| Sep 6, 1997 | Lightning | Alamosa | $40K |
| Mar 19, 1995 | Tornado | Alamosa | $11K |
| Aug 16, 2008 | Tornado | Mosca | $8K |
| Jul 10, 1955 | Tornado | – | $3K |
| Jul 15, 2007 | Lightning | Hooper | $2K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Alamosa County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Alamosa County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 7,241 housing units.
Compare in Colorado
All 64 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | Inland flooding | |
| Denver County | Inland flooding | |
| Arapahoe County | Hail | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Adams County | Hail | |
| Larimer County | Inland flooding | |
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Boulder County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande County | 7 | |
| Conejos County | 5 | |
| Huerfano County | 8 | |
| Saguache County | 7 | |
| Costilla County | 8 |
Common questions about Alamosa County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Alamosa County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Alamosa County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Alamosa County had?
Alamosa County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Alamosa County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 30th highest of 64 in Colorado. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Alamosa County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Alamosa County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Alamosa County had?
NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Alamosa County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 10, 1955. The weather service has also logged 14 hail reports and 0 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.