Baca County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Baca County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,351 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Baca County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 96.9 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 6.4 | $546K | ||
| Strong wind | 64.8 | $489K | ||
| Cold wave | 37.8 | $356K | ||
| Hail | 71.1 | $345K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.8 | $255K | ||
| Tornado | 26.5 | $235K | ||
| Lightning | 58.5 | $185K | ||
| Winter weather | 50.7 | $38K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.3 | $16K | ||
| Ice storm | 24.5 | $14K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.9 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 5.6 | $5 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Baca 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 608 storm reports in Baca County since 1955, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 18, 1977.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1977 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 1967 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
| May 15, 2003 | F2 | Springfield | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 2010 | EF2 | Campo | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 2010 | EF2 | Pritchett | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 25, 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Walsh | $2M |
| Jun 10, 1967 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 23, 2010 | Hail | Springfield | $250K |
| May 15, 2003 | Tornado | Springfield | $125K |
| Sep 24, 2004 | Hail | Springfield | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Baca 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 Baca 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; 1,983 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Las Animas County | 11 | |
| Prowers County | 7 | |
| Bent County | 7 | |
| Union County, NM | 5 | |
| Morton County, KS | 6 | |
| Cimarron County, OK | 16 | |
| Stanton County, KS | 10 |
Common questions about Baca County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Baca County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Baca County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $545,956.
How many federal disasters has Baca County had?
Baca County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.
Is Baca County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 41st 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 Baca County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Baca County had?
NOAA records list 84 tornadoes in Baca County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 18, 1977. The weather service has also logged 399 hail reports and 11 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.