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Prowers County, Colorado

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

Relatively Low overall risk
25th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$10Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Prowers County, Colorado has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 51% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $856 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $30,000 on 25 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Prowers County

$4.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 92 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow49.5
$4M
DroughtHigh95.5
$2M
Cold waveModerate68.5
$1M
HailModerate88.5
$1M
LightningHigh85.8
$639K
TornadoLow36.8
$492K
WildfireLow79.2
$247K
Strong windLow33.6
$219K
Winter weatherModerate71.8
$93K
EarthquakeVery Low29.5
$47K
Heat waveVery Low16.5
$28K
Ice stormVery Low12.7
$5K
LandslideVery Low3.8
$3

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 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 Prowers County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Tornado1
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Coastal Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 17, 2001Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Aug 1, 1997Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 679 storm reports in Prowers County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 20 injuries and about $11.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 28, 2007 near Holly.

88tornadoes
366hail reports, largest 3.75 inches
180damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 28, 2007EF3Holly9 / 2
May 29, 2001F3Lamar0 / 0
Jun 23, 2023EF3Granada0 / 0
Apr 27, 2012EF2Lamar Arpt0 / 0
Apr 27, 2012EF2Lamar7 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 29, 2001HailLamar$5M
Mar 28, 2007TornadoHolly$4M
May 16, 1995HailLamar$500K
Apr 27, 2012TornadoLamar Arpt$500K
Apr 27, 2012TornadoLamar$500K
May 21, 1989Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Prowers County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
7.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$29,726paid on 25 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $10,802 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 Prowers County

$160,600median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.1%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; 5,479 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
Bent CountyVery Low7
Baca CountyVery Low9
Hamilton County, KSVery Low9
Stanton County, KSVery Low10
Kiowa CountyVery Low9
Greeley County, KSVery Low8

Common questions about Prowers County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Prowers County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Prowers County, about $4.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Prowers County had?

Prowers County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.

Is Prowers County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Prowers County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Prowers 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 Prowers County had?

NOAA records list 88 tornadoes in Prowers County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 28, 2007 near Holly. The weather service has also logged 366 hail reports and 31 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.