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Douglas County, Colorado

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$114Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Wesbroncos1, CC0

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

$43.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$25.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$14.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate86.9
$44M
WildfireHigh98.4
$26M
TornadoHigh93.4
$14M
HailHigh98.6
$13M
LightningVery High99.3
$8M
Strong windHigh93.0
$4M
Cold waveLow63.8
$2M
Winter weatherVery High96.6
$1M
EarthquakeLow62.4
$779K
Heat waveLow54.8
$702K
Ice stormLow42.6
$90K
DroughtLow34.5
$57K
LandslideLow78.2
$20K
Volcanic activityVery Low64.2
$85
AvalancheVery Low9.6
$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

Flood3
Fire3
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 29, 2003Co - Cherokee Ranch Wildfire - 10/29/2003Fire management
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
May 23, 2002Co - Schoonover Fire - 05/23/02Fire management
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 23, 1973Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

64tornadoes
437hail reports, largest 3 inches
56damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 19, 1985F2–0 / 0
May 20, 1961F2–2 / 0
Jul 11, 1990F1–0 / 0
Jul 15, 1994F1Parker0 / 0
Jul 15, 1985F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 7, 2006Flash FloodSouthwest Portion$13M
Jun 11, 1999HailFranktown$3M
Aug 22, 2000LightningSedalia$2M
Jul 21, 1973Tornado–$250K
Jul 19, 1985Tornado–$250K
Jul 11, 1990Tornado–$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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (311 policies)
19.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$661,330paid on 70 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $373,798 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 Douglas County

$713,600median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
2002median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
7%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.3%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; 144,432 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
El Paso CountyModerate18
Arapahoe CountyModerate10
Jefferson CountyHigh13
Elbert CountyVery Low11
Teller CountyVery Low11

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.