Custer County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Custer County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $868 per resident. Since 1999 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (wildfires, flooding and mudslides). 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 Custer 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 9.5 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 79.3 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 81.6 | $699K | ||
| Hail | 32.0 | $191K | ||
| Tornado | 7.7 | $60K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.9 | $58K | ||
| Drought | 32.5 | $48K | ||
| Winter weather | 26.6 | $37K | ||
| Landslide | 81.7 | $29K | ||
| Earthquake | 14.1 | $22K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.2 | $11K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.2 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 2.9 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 22.2 | $72 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Custer County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 162 storm reports in Custer County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $229,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 4, 1960.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 13, 1954 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 24, 1965 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 2, 1966 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 30, 1992 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2002 | Wildfire | Westcliffe | $100K |
| May 1, 2002 | Wildfire | Westcliffe | $100K |
| Jul 27, 2003 | Flash Flood | Westcliffe | $20K |
| Jul 26, 2009 | Flash Flood | San Isabel | $4K |
| Feb 13, 1954 | Tornado | – | $3K |
| Jul 4, 1960 | Tornado | – | $3K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Custer 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 Custer 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; 4,631 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pueblo County | 18 | |
| Fremont County | 13 | |
| Huerfano County | 8 | |
| Saguache County | 7 |
Common questions about Custer County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Custer County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Custer County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $1 million.
How many federal disasters has Custer County had?
Custer County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1999, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires, Flooding, and Mudslides in September 2026.
Is Custer County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Custer 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 Custer County had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Custer County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 4, 1960. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 25 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.