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Moffat County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
48th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$7Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Moffat County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 48th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $529 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 20 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 Moffat County

$4.8 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 465 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Earthquake

Very Low
$359,599 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 915 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low30.7
$5M
WildfireLow87.5
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low49.7
$360K
Winter weatherModerate69.0
$165K
Cold waveVery Low12.1
$143K
LightningLow29.7
$141K
LandslideModerate92.3
$102K
DroughtLow34.3
$51K
Strong windVery Low4.3
$39K
HailVery Low4.3
$13K
TornadoVery Low2.7
$7K
Ice stormVery Low7.8
$5K
AvalancheVery Low61.7
$2K
Heat waveVery Low1.9
$0
Volcanic activityVery Low14.7
$0

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Drought1
Flood1
Fire1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1973

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 116 storm reports in Moffat County since 1973, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $526,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 26, 2004 near Craig.

7tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
43damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 26, 2004F1Craig0 / 0
Aug 26, 2006F1Dinosaur0 / 0
Aug 2, 1992F0–0 / 0
Aug 20, 1986F0–0 / 0
Jul 30, 1999F0Blue Mtn0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 2020Thunderstorm WindCraig$300K
Sep 24, 1996LightningCraig$31K
Aug 2, 1992Tornado–$25K
Jun 4, 2011FloodHiawatha Camp$25K
Jul 4, 2023Thunderstorm WindCraig Messa View Ran$25K
Jun 21, 2009HailCraig$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 12, 2025. 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 Moffat County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (20 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 Moffat County

$289,500median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.6%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; 6,136 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
Sweetwater County, WYVery Low2
Uintah County, UTVery Low6
Routt CountyVery Low4
Carbon County, WYVery Low3
Rio Blanco CountyVery Low5
Daggett County, UTVery Low5

Common questions about Moffat County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Moffat County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Moffat County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Moffat County had?

Moffat County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Moffat County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 48th 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 Moffat County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Moffat 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 Moffat County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Moffat County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 26, 2004 near Craig. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 15 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.