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Larimer County, Colorado

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
7th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$127Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: Citycommunications at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0

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

$54.3 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.
$16.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$15.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 225 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate89.4
$54M
Cold waveHigh94.8
$16M
WildfireHigh97.7
$15M
TornadoHigh90.6
$11M
HailHigh98.3
$11M
LightningVery High99.2
$7M
AvalancheHigh91.8
$3M
Strong windHigh87.9
$3M
EarthquakeLow81.0
$3M
Winter weatherVery High97.9
$2M
Heat waveLow58.8
$817K
LandslideModerate97.2
$491K
DroughtLow47.4
$182K
Ice stormLow50.9
$132K
Volcanic activityVery Low62.5
$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

Fire15
Flood7
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 31, 2024Alexander Mountain FireFire management
Jul 31, 2024Stone Mountain FireFire management
Jan 15, 2021WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2020Cameron Peak FireFire management
Sep 14, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jun 28, 2012High Park and Waldo Canyon WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 9, 2012High Park FireFire management
Apr 3, 2011Crystal FireFire management
Sep 12, 2010Reservoir Road FireFire management
Show all 28
May 26, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 1, 2004Co - Picnic Rock Fire - 03/30/2004Fire management
Nov 12, 2003Co - Buckhorn Creek Fire - 11/11/2003Fire management
Jul 25, 2003Co-Cloudy Pass Fire-07/25/2003Fire management
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jul 18, 2002Big Elk FireFire management
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Nov 1, 2001Co - Armageddon Fire - 11/01/01Fire management
Jun 12, 2000Bobcat Gulch FireFire management
May 17, 1999Co-Flooding 4/30/99Major disaster
Aug 1, 1997Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1982Flash Flood Due to Dam FailureMajor disaster
Aug 2, 1976Severe Storms & Flash FloodingMajor disaster
May 23, 1973Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and FloodingMajor disaster
May 19, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

33tornadoes
621hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
139damaging thunderstorm winds
80floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 4, 2015EF3Berthoud0 / 0
Jun 9, 1990F2–0 / 0
May 30, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1976F2–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1987F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 28, 1997Flash FloodFt Collins$190M
Sep 12, 2013FloodGlendevey$109M
Jun 12, 2000WildfireDrake$3M
Jul 16, 1994HailWellington$1M
Jul 20, 2009HailDrakes$1M
Jul 16, 1994HailVirginia 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 ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (794 policies)
17.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$15.1 millionpaid on 547 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $12.3 million 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 Larimer County

$569,100median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.3%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; 164,690 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
Boulder CountyModerate17
Weld CountyModerate14
Laramie County, WYLow3
Albany County, WYLow8
Grand CountyLow6
Jackson CountyVery Low4

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.