Bent County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Bent County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $730 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2007 (snow). Only 2 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 Bent 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 7.6 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 43.5 | $576K | ||
| Hail | 64.3 | $555K | ||
| Drought | 66.9 | $541K | ||
| Cold wave | 27.1 | $459K | ||
| Tornado | 19.7 | $284K | ||
| Wildfire | 64.7 | $149K | ||
| Lightning | 30.8 | $141K | ||
| Winter weather | 29.8 | $37K | ||
| Earthquake | 16.5 | $25K | ||
| Heat wave | 7.9 | $15K | ||
| Ice storm | 1.7 | $853 | ||
| Landslide | 3.3 | $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 low 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 Bent 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 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 286 storm reports in Bent County since 1956, with 1 death and 9 injuries and about $11.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 16, 2004 near Las Animas.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2004 | F2 | Las Animas | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2012 | EF2 | Mc Clave | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2004 | F1 | Las Animas | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 2001 | Hail | Ft Lyon | $9M |
| Jun 20, 2004 | Tornado | Las Animas | $1M |
| Oct 11, 1997 | Tornado | Las Animas | $200K |
| Jun 16, 2006 | Hail | Hasty | $150K |
| Oct 11, 1997 | Hail | Las Animas | $100K |
| Jul 23, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Las Animas | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 4, 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 Bent 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 Bent 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; 2,174 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Otero County | 7 | |
| Las Animas County | 11 | |
| Prowers County | 7 | |
| Baca County | 9 | |
| Kiowa County | 9 |
Common questions about Bent County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Bent County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bent County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $575,767.
How many federal disasters has Bent County had?
Bent County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Snow in January 2007.
Is Bent County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 58th 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 Bent County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Bent 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 Bent County had?
NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Bent County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 16, 2004 near Las Animas. The weather service has also logged 170 hail reports and 16 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.