Larimer County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Larimer County, Colorado has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 90% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $127 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $353 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Alexander Mountain Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (794 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $15 million on 547 claims here, including $12 million for floods in 2013.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Larimer County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 89.4 | $54M | ||
| Cold wave | 94.8 | $16M | ||
| Wildfire | 97.7 | $15M | ||
| Tornado | 90.6 | $11M | ||
| Hail | 98.3 | $11M | ||
| Lightning | 99.2 | $7M | ||
| Avalanche | 91.8 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 87.9 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 81.0 | $3M | ||
| Winter weather | 97.9 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 58.8 | $817K | ||
| Landslide | 97.2 | $491K | ||
| Drought | 47.4 | $182K | ||
| Ice storm | 50.9 | $132K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 62.5 | $69 |
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 Larimer County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 28
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 923 storm reports in Larimer County since 1954, with 24 deaths and 115 injuries and about $310 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 4, 2015 near Berthoud.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2015 | EF3 | Berthoud | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 30, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1987 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 1997 | Flash Flood | Ft Collins | $190M |
| Sep 12, 2013 | Flood | Glendevey | $109M |
| Jun 12, 2000 | Wildfire | Drake | $3M |
| Jul 16, 1994 | Hail | Wellington | $1M |
| Jul 20, 2009 | Hail | Drakes | $1M |
| Jul 16, 1994 | Hail | Virginia Dale | $550K |
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 Larimer County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Larimer County
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; 164,690 housing units.
Compare in Colorado
All 64 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | Inland flooding | |
| Denver County | Inland flooding | |
| Arapahoe County | Hail | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Adams County | Hail | |
| Larimer County | Inland flooding | |
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Boulder County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder County | 17 | |
| Weld County | 14 | |
| Laramie County, WY | 3 | |
| Albany County, WY | 8 | |
| Grand County | 6 | |
| Jackson County | 4 |
Cities in Larimer County
Common questions about Larimer County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Larimer County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Larimer County, about $54.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $16.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Larimer County had?
Larimer County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Alexander Mountain Fire in July 2024.
Is Larimer County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Larimer County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Larimer 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 Larimer County had?
NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Larimer County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 4, 2015 near Berthoud. The weather service has also logged 621 hail reports and 80 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.