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Delta County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$14Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Delta County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $451 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $86,000 on 19 claims here.

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

Top risks in Delta County

$10.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$711,746 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 58 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$709,287 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 875 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
Inland floodingLow69.6
$11M
LightningHigh83.0
$712K
WildfireLow86.7
$709K
EarthquakeLow68.3
$604K
DroughtModerate68.9
$415K
AvalancheModerate79.5
$311K
Cold waveVery Low19.6
$183K
LandslideModerate94.5
$93K
Strong windVery Low12.2
$79K
Heat waveVery Low18.9
$47K
TornadoVery Low8.8
$44K
Winter weatherLow42.3
$41K
HailVery Low7.5
$18K
Ice stormVery Low15.1
$8K
Volcanic activityVery Low17.3
$0

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 relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood3
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 3, 2004Co-Mcgruder Fire-07/03/2004Fire management
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jul 6, 1973Flooding & LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1993

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 61 storm reports in Delta County since 1993 and about $6.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 11, 2002 near Delta.

3tornadoes
7hail reports, largest 0.88 inches
21damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 11, 2002F1Delta0 / 0
Jul 31, 1994F0Paonia0 / 0
Sep 29, 2014EF0Roubideau0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 19, 2010Thunderstorm WindLazear$2M
May 2, 2023Debris FlowPaonia$2M
May 2, 1998Flash FloodHotchkiss$2M
May 27, 1993Thunderstorm WindDelta$500K
Jul 18, 2013Flash FloodRoubideau$150K
Aug 22, 2001FloodDelta$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 23, 2023. 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 Delta County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
9.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$86,062paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $55,677 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 Delta County

$343,200median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.5%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; 15,025 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
Mesa CountyLow6
Montrose CountyLow7
Gunnison CountyLow7

Common questions about Delta County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Delta County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Delta County, about $10.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $711,746.

How many federal disasters has Delta County had?

Delta County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Delta County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th 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 Delta County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Delta 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 Delta County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Delta County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 11, 2002 near Delta. The weather service has also logged 7 hail reports and 18 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.