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Clear Creek County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$21Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0

Clear Creek County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are avalanches, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,202 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2013 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (73 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $43,000 on 29 claims here.

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

Top risks in Clear Creek County

Avalanche

Very High
$7.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
$6.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 115 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
AvalancheVery High98.0
$8M
Inland floodingLow40.0
$7M
WildfireModerate94.0
$4M
HailModerate74.6
$965K
LightningModerate67.8
$639K
TornadoVery Low18.7
$300K
Strong windVery Low10.3
$106K
EarthquakeVery Low25.7
$66K
LandslideModerate88.1
$64K
Winter weatherLow32.6
$47K
Cold waveVery Low4.1
$10K
Ice stormVery Low11.0
$8K
Volcanic activityVery Low28.7
$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 very low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Clear Creek County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Fire1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 14, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 1, 1997Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesMajor disaster
May 19, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1971

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 36 storm reports in Clear Creek County since 1971, with 0 deaths and 18 injuries and about $256,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on August 18, 2007 near Idaho Spgs.

2tornadoes
18hail reports, largest 2 inches
2damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 18, 2007EF0Idaho Spgs0 / 0
Jul 28, 2012EF0Georgetown0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 14, 2013Flash FloodIdaho Spgs$256K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 24, 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 Clear Creek County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (73 policies)
18.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$42,939paid on 29 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $14,400 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 Clear Creek County

$608,500median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.5%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; 5,814 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
Jefferson CountyHigh13
Summit CountyLow4
Park CountyVery Low10
Grand CountyLow6
Gilpin CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Clear Creek County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clear Creek County?

Avalanche has the highest expected yearly losses in Clear Creek County, about $7.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $6.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Clear Creek County had?

Clear Creek County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2013.

Is Clear Creek County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Clear Creek County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Clear Creek 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 Clear Creek County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Clear Creek County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on August 18, 2007 near Idaho Spgs. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 7 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.