Park County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 94.9 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 21.8 | $4M | ||
| Hail | 73.3 | $914K | ||
| Lightning | 67.9 | $641K | ||
| Tornado | 19.2 | $310K | ||
| Strong wind | 14.3 | $163K | ||
| Landslide | 94.6 | $161K | ||
| Avalanche | 77.6 | $131K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.0 | $106K | ||
| Winter weather | 46.2 | $79K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.3 | $11K | ||
| Ice storm | 7.4 | $5K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 32.6 | $4 | ||
| Heat wave | 1.7 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2014 | EF2 | Lake George | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 23, 2008 | EF1 | Lake George | 4 / 0 |
| Aug 18, 2009 | EF1 | Lake George | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 2014 | EF1 | Fairplay | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 2014 | EF0 | Fairplay | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2008 | Lightning | Guffey | $40K |
| Aug 23, 2008 | Tornado | Lake George | $30K |
| Jun 16, 2015 | Flood | Tarryall | $25K |
| Jul 16, 2018 | Flash Flood | Garo Park | $15K |
| Jul 5, 2021 | Flash Flood | Hartsel | $5K |
| Aug 2, 2007 | Flash Flood | Bailey | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 13 | |
| Fremont County | 13 | |
| Summit County | 4 | |
| Teller County | 11 | |
| Chaffee County | 3 | |
| Clear Creek County | 7 | |
| Lake County | 4 |
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.