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Montezuma County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$12Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$6.5 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 425 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow56.1
$7M
WildfireModerate93.6
$2M
AvalancheHigh88.2
$1M
LightningHigh86.6
$817K
DroughtModerate72.6
$495K
EarthquakeLow61.9
$415K
Cold waveLow32.8
$394K
Heat waveVery Low25.6
$84K
LandslideModerate93.3
$74K
Winter weatherLow59.4
$72K
HailVery Low18.5
$54K
TornadoVery Low10.1
$53K
Strong windVery Low7.4
$44K
Ice stormVery Low15.0
$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

Flood2
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jun 24, 2012Weber FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jul 6, 1973Flooding & LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

3tornadoes
24hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
30damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 25, 1985F2–0 / 0
Sep 5, 1970F1–0 / 0
Jul 18, 2011EF0Towaoc0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 14, 2003HailCortez$1M
Aug 1, 2002WildfireCortez$300K
Sep 29, 2005Flash FloodLewis$250K
Oct 3, 2013Thunderstorm WindArriola$225K
Jul 16, 1997LightningCortez$150K
Sep 9, 2003HailYellow 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (63 policies)
10.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$19,603paid on 20 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $16,101 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 Montezuma County

$331,400median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.7%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; 12,375 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
San Juan County, NMModerate10
Apache County, AZLow14
La Plata CountyLow8
San Juan County, UTVery Low4
Dolores CountyVery Low7
San Juan CountyVery Low4

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.