Montezuma County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Montezuma County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $479 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (Weber Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (63 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $20,000 on 20 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Montezuma 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.
- Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
- Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 56.1 | $7M | ||
| Wildfire | 93.6 | $2M | ||
| Avalanche | 88.2 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 86.6 | $817K | ||
| Drought | 72.6 | $495K | ||
| Earthquake | 61.9 | $415K | ||
| Cold wave | 32.8 | $394K | ||
| Heat wave | 25.6 | $84K | ||
| Landslide | 93.3 | $74K | ||
| Winter weather | 59.4 | $72K | ||
| Hail | 18.5 | $54K | ||
| Tornado | 10.1 | $53K | ||
| Strong wind | 7.4 | $44K | ||
| Ice storm | 15.0 | $8K |
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 relatively high 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 Montezuma 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 1970
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 135 storm reports in Montezuma County since 1970, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $2.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 25, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1985 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 5, 1970 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 2011 | EF0 | Towaoc | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2003 | Hail | Cortez | $1M |
| Aug 1, 2002 | Wildfire | Cortez | $300K |
| Sep 29, 2005 | Flash Flood | Lewis | $250K |
| Oct 3, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Arriola | $225K |
| Jul 16, 1997 | Lightning | Cortez | $150K |
| Sep 9, 2003 | Hail | Yellow Jacket | $112K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 11, 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 Montezuma 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 Montezuma 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; 12,375 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan County, NM | 10 | |
| Apache County, AZ | 14 | |
| La Plata County | 8 | |
| San Juan County, UT | 4 | |
| Dolores County | 7 | |
| San Juan County | 4 |
Common questions about Montezuma County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Montezuma County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montezuma County, about $6.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Montezuma County had?
Montezuma County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Weber Fire in June 2012.
Is Montezuma County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Montezuma County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Montezuma 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 Montezuma County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Montezuma County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 25, 1985. The weather service has also logged 24 hail reports and 22 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.