Douglas County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Douglas County, Colorado has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $114 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $317 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (311 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $661,000 on 70 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Douglas 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 86.9 | $44M | ||
| Wildfire | 98.4 | $26M | ||
| Tornado | 93.4 | $14M | ||
| Hail | 98.6 | $13M | ||
| Lightning | 99.3 | $8M | ||
| Strong wind | 93.0 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 63.8 | $2M | ||
| Winter weather | 96.6 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 62.4 | $779K | ||
| Heat wave | 54.8 | $702K | ||
| Ice storm | 42.6 | $90K | ||
| Drought | 34.5 | $57K | ||
| Landslide | 78.2 | $20K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 64.2 | $85 | ||
| Avalanche | 9.6 | $11 |
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 Douglas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 632 storm reports in Douglas County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 28 injuries and about $20.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 19, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1985 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 1961 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jul 11, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1994 | F1 | Parker | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2006 | Flash Flood | Southwest Portion | $13M |
| Jun 11, 1999 | Hail | Franktown | $3M |
| Aug 22, 2000 | Lightning | Sedalia | $2M |
| Jul 21, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 19, 1985 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 11, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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; 144,432 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 |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | 18 | |
| Arapahoe County | 10 | |
| Jefferson County | 13 | |
| Elbert County | 11 | |
| Teller County | 11 |
Cities in Douglas County
Common questions about Douglas County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $43.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $25.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?
Douglas County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.
Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Douglas County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?
NOAA records list 64 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 19, 1985. The weather service has also logged 437 hail reports and 45 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.