Costilla County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Costilla County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $1.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $565 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2018 (Spring Creek Fire). Only 10 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 Costilla 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 17.2 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 70.8 | $296K | ||
| Cold wave | 23.6 | $159K | ||
| Wildfire | 73.1 | $121K | ||
| Lightning | 33.6 | $68K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.5 | $67K | ||
| Hail | 18.8 | $36K | ||
| Tornado | 7.2 | $20K | ||
| Winter weather | 27.0 | $14K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.9 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 78.5 | $7K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.8 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.0 | $1K | ||
| Avalanche | 29.5 | $57 |
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 Costilla 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 24 storm reports in Costilla County since 1955 and about $890,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 31, 1955.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 1955 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1970 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1994 | F0 | San Acacio | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1995 | F0 | Blanca | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 1996 | Hail | San Luis | $700K |
| Sep 6, 2019 | Flash Flood | La Veta Pass | $150K |
| Aug 14, 2009 | Flash Flood | San Luis | $30K |
| Jun 30, 1995 | Hail | North of San Luis | $5K |
| Jul 31, 1955 | Tornado | – | $3K |
| Jul 12, 1970 | Tornado | – | $3K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 26, 2022. 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 Costilla 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 Costilla 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; 2,433 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Taos County, NM | 8 | |
| Alamosa County | 5 | |
| Las Animas County | 11 | |
| Colfax County, NM | 16 | |
| Conejos County | 5 | |
| Huerfano County | 8 |
Common questions about Costilla County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Costilla County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Costilla County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $296,254.
How many federal disasters has Costilla County had?
Costilla County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Spring Creek Fire in June 2018.
Is Costilla County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 54th 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 Costilla County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Costilla 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 Costilla County had?
NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Costilla County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 31, 1955. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 10 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.