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Kiowa County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 64highest risk in Colorado
$3Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Kiowa County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $3.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,290 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). No 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 Kiowa County

Drought

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 118 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$843,936 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Hail

Low
$401,354 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 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
DroughtModerate82.7
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low4.8
$844K
HailLow55.7
$401K
Strong windLow19.4
$210K
Cold waveVery Low16.3
$205K
TornadoVery Low15.3
$182K
WildfireVery Low51.2
$62K
LightningVery Low9.0
$36K
Winter weatherVery Low17.8
$19K
EarthquakeVery Low13.7
$17K
Ice stormVery Low3.2
$2K
Heat waveVery Low2.9
$1K
LandslideVery Low1.2
$1

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 Kiowa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Severe Storm2
Tornado1
Drought1
Fire1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
May 17, 2001Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
May 17, 1999Co-Flooding 4/30/99Major disaster
Aug 1, 1997Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesMajor 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 496 storm reports in Kiowa County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $1.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 17, 1971.

92tornadoes
324hail reports, largest 4 inches
62damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 17, 1971F3–0 / 0
May 12, 1975F2–0 / 0
Apr 27, 2012EF2Chivington0 / 0
May 18, 1982F2–0 / 0
Mar 28, 2007EF2Towner0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 1994HailTowner$500K
Oct 17, 1971Tornado–$250K
May 12, 1975Tornado–$250K
Sep 21, 2000TornadoSheridan Lake$50K
May 23, 2012LightningBrandon$50K
Apr 27, 2012TornadoChivington$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 23, 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 Kiowa County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest 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 Kiowa County

$161,500median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.1%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; 740 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
Otero CountyLow7
Prowers CountyLow7
Crowley CountyVery Low10
Lincoln CountyVery Low8
Bent CountyVery Low7
Cheyenne CountyVery Low7
Greeley County, KSVery Low8

Common questions about Kiowa County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kiowa County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Kiowa County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $843,936.

How many federal disasters has Kiowa County had?

Kiowa County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.

Is Kiowa County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Kiowa County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Kiowa County had?

NOAA records list 92 tornadoes in Kiowa County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 17, 1971. The weather service has also logged 324 hail reports and 10 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.