Prowers County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 49.5 | $4M | ||
| Drought | 95.5 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 68.5 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 88.5 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 85.8 | $639K | ||
| Tornado | 36.8 | $492K | ||
| Wildfire | 79.2 | $247K | ||
| Strong wind | 33.6 | $219K | ||
| Winter weather | 71.8 | $93K | ||
| Earthquake | 29.5 | $47K | ||
| Heat wave | 16.5 | $28K | ||
| Ice storm | 12.7 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 3.8 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2007 | EF3 | Holly | 9 / 2 |
| May 29, 2001 | F3 | Lamar | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 2023 | EF3 | Granada | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2012 | EF2 | Lamar Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2012 | EF2 | Lamar | 7 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2001 | Hail | Lamar | $5M |
| Mar 28, 2007 | Tornado | Holly | $4M |
| May 16, 1995 | Hail | Lamar | $500K |
| Apr 27, 2012 | Tornado | Lamar Arpt | $500K |
| Apr 27, 2012 | Tornado | Lamar | $500K |
| May 21, 1989 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bent County | 7 | |
| Baca County | 9 | |
| Hamilton County, KS | 9 | |
| Stanton County, KS | 10 | |
| Kiowa County | 9 | |
| Greeley County, KS | 8 |
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.