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Routt County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
37th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$16Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Routt County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 67% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, avalanches and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $654 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (151 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $415,000 on 36 claims here.

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

Top risks in Routt County

$12.6 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.

Avalanche

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
$645,207 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 785 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow57.5
$13M
AvalancheModerate84.6
$1M
WildfireLow80.5
$645K
LightningModerate65.6
$634K
EarthquakeVery Low47.0
$356K
Winter weatherModerate67.3
$180K
Cold waveVery Low9.6
$107K
LandslideModerate89.9
$86K
Strong windVery Low5.1
$53K
DroughtLow32.3
$49K
TornadoVery Low4.3
$21K
Ice stormVery Low18.2
$21K
HailVery Low4.6
$16K
Volcanic activityVery Low35.2
$6

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Drought1
Flood1
Fire1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1976

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 101 storm reports in Routt County since 1976 and about $413,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 30, 1980.

3tornadoes
19hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
27damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1995F0Steamboat Springs0 / 0
Jun 24, 2018EF0Clark0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 20, 1997HailHayden$150K
Aug 16, 2011HailOak Creek$50K
Jul 8, 2004Thunderstorm WindSteamboat Spgs$45K
Sep 19, 2004Thunderstorm WindSteamboat Spgs$40K
Jun 3, 2009LightningYampa$30K
Jul 13, 2003Thunderstorm WindSteamboat Spgs$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 2024. 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 Routt County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (151 policies)
26.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$414,729paid on 36 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $310,516 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 Routt County

$854,700median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.1%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; 17,169 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
Garfield CountyLow10
Eagle CountyLow7
Grand CountyLow6
Carbon County, WYVery Low3
Moffat CountyVery Low4
Rio Blanco CountyVery Low5
Jackson CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Routt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Routt County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Routt County, about $12.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Routt County had?

Routt County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Routt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 37th 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 Routt County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Routt 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 Routt County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Routt County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 30, 1980. The weather service has also logged 19 hail reports and 17 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.