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Elbert County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
34th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$17Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Elbert County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $638 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). Only 17 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 Elbert County

Wildfire

Moderate
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 590 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$5 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.

Hail

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate95.1
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low29.9
$5M
HailModerate89.1
$2M
TornadoLow48.9
$2M
Cold waveLow49.3
$1M
Strong windLow28.2
$390K
LightningLow42.5
$254K
Winter weatherModerate76.2
$252K
EarthquakeVery Low32.1
$133K
DroughtLow34.3
$54K
Heat waveVery Low9.5
$23K
Ice stormVery Low19.5
$23K
LandslideVery Low32.1
$523
Volcanic activityVery Low35.8
$6

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 Elbert County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 16, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
May 17, 1999Co-Flooding 4/30/99Major disaster
Aug 1, 1997Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 23, 1973Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and 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 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 821 storm reports in Elbert County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1990.

127tornadoes
571hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
93damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 6, 1990F3–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1983F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 2009EF2Elbert0 / 0
Jun 14, 1982F2–0 / 0
May 10, 2004F2Simla0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 4, 1983Tornado–$250K
Jun 15, 2009TornadoElbert$100K
Jun 15, 2009TornadoElbert$75K
Jul 29, 2009TornadoResolis$75K
Jun 7, 2009TornadoKiowa$75K
Jun 22, 2023FloodSimla$60K

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 Elbert County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
10.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year

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 Elbert County

$709,800median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
18%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%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; 10,510 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
Douglas CountyModerate11
Lincoln CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Elbert County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Elbert County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Elbert County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5 million.

How many federal disasters has Elbert County had?

Elbert County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.

Is Elbert County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 34th 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 Elbert County?

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

NOAA records list 127 tornadoes in Elbert County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1990. The weather service has also logged 571 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.