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Park County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
43rd of 64highest risk in Colorado
$11Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Park County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $631 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2015 (severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 25 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 Park County

Wildfire

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Hail

Moderate
$913,795 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate94.9
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low21.8
$4M
HailModerate73.3
$914K
LightningModerate67.9
$641K
TornadoVery Low19.2
$310K
Strong windVery Low14.3
$163K
LandslideModerate94.6
$161K
AvalancheLow77.6
$131K
EarthquakeVery Low30.0
$106K
Winter weatherLow46.2
$79K
Cold waveVery Low4.3
$11K
Ice stormVery Low7.4
$5K
Volcanic activityVery Low32.6
$4
Heat waveVery Low1.7
$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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire5
Flood2
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 16, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2008Nash Ranch FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
May 5, 2002Black Mountain FireFire management
Apr 23, 2002Co - Snaking Fire - 4/23/2002Fire management
Jun 12, 2000High Meadows FireFire management
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 19, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 74 storm reports in Park County since 1961, with 1 death and 9 injuries and about $117,040 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 8, 2014 near Lake George.

10tornadoes
42hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
3damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 2014EF2Lake George0 / 0
Aug 23, 2008EF1Lake George4 / 0
Aug 18, 2009EF1Lake George0 / 0
Jun 8, 2014EF1Fairplay0 / 0
Jun 8, 2014EF0Fairplay0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 26, 2008LightningGuffey$40K
Aug 23, 2008TornadoLake George$30K
Jun 16, 2015FloodTarryall$25K
Jul 16, 2018Flash FloodGaro Park$15K
Jul 5, 2021Flash FloodHartsel$5K
Aug 2, 2007Flash FloodBailey$1K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 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 Park County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
13.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$343paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2000costliest year, with $343 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 Park County

$532,100median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.2%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; 14,066 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
Jefferson CountyHigh13
Fremont CountyLow13
Summit CountyLow4
Teller CountyVery Low11
Chaffee CountyLow3
Clear Creek CountyLow7
Lake CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Park County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Park County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Park County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Park County had?

Park County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in July 2015.

Is Park County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 43rd 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 Park County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Park 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 Park County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Park County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 8, 2014 near Lake George. The weather service has also logged 42 hail reports and 10 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.