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Grand County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 64highest risk in Colorado
$20Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grand County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, avalanches and lightning. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,291 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2021 (wildfires). Only 33 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 Grand County

$12.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.

Lightning

Moderate
$983,295 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 60 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.4
$12M
AvalancheVery High95.0
$5M
LightningModerate81.8
$983K
HailModerate75.6
$889K
TornadoVery Low26.1
$490K
WildfireLow78.5
$441K
EarthquakeVery Low46.6
$288K
Strong windVery Low15.5
$161K
LandslideModerate93.5
$122K
Winter weatherLow31.4
$39K
DroughtVery Low26.7
$20K
Ice stormVery Low16.0
$13K
Cold waveVery Low4.0
$8K
Volcanic activityVery Low32.9
$4

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire3
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jan 15, 2021WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 17, 2020East Troublesome FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 46 storm reports in Grand County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 31 injuries and about $362,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 8, 1984.

1tornadoes
4hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
23damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1984F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 30, 2011Thunderstorm WindGranby$200K
Jul 30, 2021Flash FloodGrand Lake$35K
Sep 14, 2023Flash FloodHot Sulphur Spgs$20K
Jul 22, 2021Flash FloodHot Sulphur Spgs$15K
Aug 22, 2022Flash FloodGranby$15K
Jul 23, 2022Flash FloodGranby$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Grand County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (33 policies)
10.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$46,179paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
1979costliest year, with $31,887 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 Grand County

$601,500median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.5%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; 17,421 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
Larimer CountyModerate28
Boulder CountyModerate17
Eagle CountyLow7
Summit CountyLow4
Routt CountyVery Low4
Clear Creek CountyLow7
Gilpin CountyVery Low6
Jackson CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Grand County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grand County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grand County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $4.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Grand County had?

Grand County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in January 2021.

Is Grand County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Grand County?

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

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Grand County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 8, 1984. The weather service has also logged 4 hail reports and 16 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.