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Huerfano County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
39th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$6Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Huerfano County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $5.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $826 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in June 2018 (Spring Creek Fire). Only 34 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 Huerfano County

$4.2 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.
$653,105 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 580 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Lightning

Moderate
$247,451 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 57 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.9
$4M
WildfireLow87.6
$653K
LightningModerate62.3
$247K
HailLow46.9
$158K
Strong windLow17.6
$104K
Winter weatherModerate65.3
$75K
TornadoVery Low11.7
$60K
Heat waveVery Low18.2
$35K
EarthquakeVery Low26.1
$34K
Cold waveVery Low6.3
$23K
DroughtVery Low30.0
$17K
Ice stormVery Low6.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low41.4
$494
AvalancheVery Low25.9
$49

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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire4
Snowstorm2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2018Spring Creek FireFire management
Jun 21, 2013East Peak FireFire management
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Jan 8, 2006Mauricio Canyon 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 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 192 storm reports in Huerfano County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $605,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 10, 1978.

8tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
8damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 10, 1978F2–2 / 0
May 25, 1993F1–0 / 0
May 8, 2017EF1Farisita0 / 0
Jul 21, 1958F0–0 / 0
May 25, 1976F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 25, 1993Tornado–$500K
Jun 2, 2000LightningLa Veta$40K
Jun 26, 2007HailWalsenburg$30K
Jul 10, 1978Tornado–$25K
Sep 6, 2019Flash FloodRed Wing$5K
Jul 8, 2014Flash FloodLa Veta$3K

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 Huerfano County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (34 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,116paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $1,116 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 Huerfano County

$247,800median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.6%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; 4,783 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
Pueblo CountyModerate18
Alamosa CountyVery Low5
Las Animas CountyVery Low11
Saguache CountyVery Low7
Custer CountyVery Low12
Costilla CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Huerfano County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Huerfano County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Huerfano County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $653,105.

How many federal disasters has Huerfano County had?

Huerfano County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Spring Creek Fire in June 2018.

Is Huerfano County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 39th 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 Huerfano County?

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

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Huerfano County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 10, 1978. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 62 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.