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Eagle County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
11th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$48Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Eagle County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, avalanches and lightning. FEMA estimates about $48 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $873 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2020 (Grizzly Creek Fire). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (213 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $270,000 on 35 claims here.

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

Top risks in Eagle County

$38.8 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.

Avalanche

Very High
$6.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 56 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate86.5
$39M
AvalancheVery High96.3
$6M
LightningHigh89.4
$2M
EarthquakeVery Low53.2
$443K
WildfireLow75.5
$370K
Winter weatherModerate74.2
$217K
LandslideModerate95.6
$209K
TornadoVery Low14.4
$178K
HailVery Low30.9
$170K
Strong windVery Low11.7
$120K
Ice stormLow28.0
$39K
DroughtVery Low25.3
$18K
Cold waveVery Low3.5
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low82.7
$2K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire4
Drought1
Flood1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 19, 2020Grizzly Creek FireFire management
Jul 4, 2018Lake Christine FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 31, 2002Co - Panorama Fire - 07/31/02Fire management
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1971

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 99 storm reports in Eagle County since 1971, with 4 deaths and 0 injuries and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 6, 1974.

2tornadoes
2hail reports, largest 0.75 inches
41damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 6, 1974F1–0 / 0
Jun 30, 2004F0Eagle0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 25, 2024Thunderstorm WindGypsum$1M
Aug 16, 2008LightningVail$500K
Jul 22, 2021Debris FlowAvon$500K
Jul 28, 1999Flash FloodGypsum$350K
Jul 30, 2006Flash FloodBasalt$200K
Aug 3, 2021Flash FloodPando$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 5, 2024. 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 Eagle County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (213 policies)
29.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$269,526paid on 35 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $105,346 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 Eagle County

$839,500median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
21%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 33,915 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
Garfield CountyLow10
Summit CountyLow4
Routt CountyVery Low4
Pitkin CountyLow4
Grand CountyLow6
Lake CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Eagle County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Eagle County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Eagle County, about $38.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $6.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Eagle County had?

Eagle County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Grizzly Creek Fire in August 2020.

Is Eagle County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 11th 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 Eagle County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Eagle 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 Eagle County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Eagle County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 6, 1974. The weather service has also logged 2 hail reports and 32 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.