Moffat County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 30.7 | $5M | ||
| Wildfire | 87.5 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 49.7 | $360K | ||
| Winter weather | 69.0 | $165K | ||
| Cold wave | 12.1 | $143K | ||
| Lightning | 29.7 | $141K | ||
| Landslide | 92.3 | $102K | ||
| Drought | 34.3 | $51K | ||
| Strong wind | 4.3 | $39K | ||
| Hail | 4.3 | $13K | ||
| Tornado | 2.7 | $7K | ||
| Ice storm | 7.8 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 61.7 | $2K | ||
| Heat wave | 1.9 | $0 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 14.7 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 2004 | F1 | Craig | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 2006 | F1 | Dinosaur | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 2, 1992 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 20, 1986 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 30, 1999 | F0 | Blue Mtn | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Craig | $300K |
| Sep 24, 1996 | Lightning | Craig | $31K |
| Aug 2, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jun 4, 2011 | Flood | Hiawatha Camp | $25K |
| Jul 4, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Craig Messa View Ran | $25K |
| Jun 21, 2009 | Hail | Craig | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater County, WY | 2 | |
| Uintah County, UT | 6 | |
| Routt County | 4 | |
| Carbon County, WY | 3 | |
| Rio Blanco County | 5 | |
| Daggett County, UT | 5 |
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.