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Fremont County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
14th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$22Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fremont County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $459 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2015 (severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (184 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $344,000 on 72 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fremont County

$16.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 295 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 65 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate80.2
$16M
WildfireModerate94.2
$2M
LightningHigh96.0
$2M
HailModerate83.8
$885K
TornadoLow31.2
$441K
Winter weatherModerate84.9
$221K
Strong windLow25.7
$199K
Heat waveLow39.2
$179K
EarthquakeVery Low41.2
$133K
Cold waveVery Low13.6
$107K
LandslideModerate93.6
$80K
DroughtLow39.2
$49K
Ice stormVery Low17.5
$10K
AvalancheVery Low31.1
$94
Volcanic activityVery Low51.8
$12

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire5
Flood3
Tornado1
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jul 16, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jul 26, 2013Royal Gorge FireMajor disaster
Jun 11, 2013Royal Gorge FireFire management
Jun 16, 2011Duckett FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2002Iron Mountain FireFire management
Show all 13
May 17, 1999Co-Flooding 4/30/99Major disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 204 storm reports in Fremont County since 1958, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $8.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 21, 1988.

9tornadoes
102hail reports, largest 3 inches
14damaging thunderstorm winds
63floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 21, 1988F1–0 / 0
Jul 13, 1989F1–0 / 0
Jul 22, 1985F1–0 / 0
Jul 19, 1985F1–0 / 0
Jun 15, 2004F0Penrose0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 2002WildfireTexas Creek$5M
Jul 5, 2006Flash FloodPenrose$2M
Aug 8, 1996Flash FloodCanon City$800K
Jul 3, 2008LightningHoward$150K
Jul 26, 2008Flash FloodTexas Creek$75K
Aug 1, 1996Flash FloodCanon City$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Fremont County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (184 policies)
10.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$343,587paid on 72 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $173,954 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 Fremont County

$324,000median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14%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; 20,605 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
Pueblo CountyModerate18
Teller CountyVery Low11
Chaffee CountyLow3
Park CountyVery Low10
Saguache CountyVery Low7
Custer CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Fremont County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fremont County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fremont County, about $16.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Fremont County had?

Fremont County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in July 2015.

Is Fremont County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Fremont County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Fremont 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 Fremont County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Fremont County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 21, 1988. The weather service has also logged 102 hail reports and 63 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.