Pueblo County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Pueblo County, Colorado has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $48 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $288 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (wildfires, flooding and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $332,000 on 100 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Pueblo 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 81.1 | $21M | ||
| Cold wave | 91.6 | $8M | ||
| Hail | 98.2 | $7M | ||
| Lightning | 99.0 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 72.2 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 92.7 | $2M | ||
| Winter weather | 98.6 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 66.0 | $858K | ||
| Earthquake | 66.5 | $657K | ||
| Heat wave | 56.0 | $488K | ||
| Drought | 58.8 | $261K | ||
| Ice storm | 32.4 | $37K | ||
| Landslide | 48.6 | $1K | ||
| Avalanche | 10.4 | $9 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 17.6 | $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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Pueblo County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 952 storm reports in Pueblo County since 1955, with 1 death and 34 injuries and about $222 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 21, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1984 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 2006 | F1 | Pueblo West | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 1982 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 15, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2009 | Hail | Cedarwood | $110M |
| Aug 4, 1993 | Hail | Pueblo | $50M |
| Aug 11, 1997 | Flood | Pueblo | $25M |
| Jul 20, 2000 | Hail | Pueblo Muni Arpt | $20M |
| Jun 20, 2003 | Hail | Pueblo | $4M |
| May 20, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pueblo West | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Pueblo 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 Pueblo 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; 73,646 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 |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | 18 | |
| Fremont County | 13 | |
| Otero County | 7 | |
| Las Animas County | 11 | |
| Huerfano County | 8 | |
| Crowley County | 10 | |
| Lincoln County | 8 | |
| Custer County | 12 |
Cities in Pueblo County
Common questions about Pueblo County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Pueblo County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pueblo County, about $20.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $8.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Pueblo County had?
Pueblo County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires, Flooding, and Mudslides in September 2026.
Is Pueblo County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 10th 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 Pueblo County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Pueblo 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 Pueblo County had?
NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Pueblo County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 21, 1984. The weather service has also logged 549 hail reports and 119 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.