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Archuleta County, Colorado

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
36th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$8Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Archuleta County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $8.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $620 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2025 (Oak Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (77 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $123,000 on 10 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Archuleta County

$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 305 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Lightning

Moderate
$256,146 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 71 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.7
$5M
WildfireModerate94.5
$2M
LightningModerate60.6
$256K
EarthquakeVery Low46.3
$171K
Winter weatherModerate66.6
$86K
AvalancheLow77.8
$72K
LandslideModerate90.9
$47K
TornadoVery Low9.6
$45K
Strong windVery Low4.4
$22K
DroughtVery Low30.9
$21K
HailVery Low3.3
$5K
Ice stormVery Low11.1
$4K
Heat waveVery Low3.3
$2K
Cold waveVery Low2.7
$2

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 relatively 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 Archuleta County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 11, 2025Oak FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jul 6, 1973Flooding & LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1993

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 72 storm reports in Archuleta County since 1993, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $653,550 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on April 25, 1999 near Pagosa Spgs.

1tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
15damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 25, 1999F0Pagosa Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 15, 2014Flash FloodPagosa Spgs$250K
Sep 8, 2000LightningPagosa Spgs$50K
Sep 29, 2014Thunderstorm WindPagosa Spgs$45K
Apr 7, 1998LightningPagosa Spgs$40K
Jun 26, 2000LightningPagosa Spgs$40K
Sep 12, 2025Flash FloodArboles$30K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 13, 2025. 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 Archuleta County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (77 policies)
28.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$122,741paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $119,366 paid

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 Archuleta County

$478,100median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
19%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 9,858 housing units.

Compare in Colorado

All 64 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
El Paso CountyModerateInland flooding
Denver CountyHighInland flooding
Arapahoe CountyModerateHail
Jefferson CountyHighInland flooding
Adams CountyModerateHail
Larimer CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyModerateInland flooding
Boulder CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
San Juan County, NMModerate10
La Plata CountyLow8
Rio Arriba County, NMLow15
Rio Grande CountyLow7
Conejos CountyVery Low5
Mineral CountyVery Low6
Hinsdale CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Archuleta County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Archuleta County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Archuleta County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Archuleta County had?

Archuleta County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Oak Fire in August 2025.

Is Archuleta County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 36th 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 Archuleta County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Archuleta 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 Archuleta County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Archuleta County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on April 25, 1999 near Pagosa Spgs. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 14 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.