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Saguache County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
46th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$5Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Saguache County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $5.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $798 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2015 (severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 2 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 Saguache County

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 87 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Avalanche

Moderate
$847,841 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.5
$2M
DroughtModerate83.7
$1M
AvalancheModerate84.8
$848K
LightningModerate76.2
$540K
Cold waveLow27.4
$316K
LandslideModerate96.2
$163K
EarthquakeVery Low37.1
$109K
WildfireLow64.1
$98K
HailVery Low19.4
$59K
TornadoVery Low8.0
$37K
Winter weatherVery Low20.3
$15K
Heat waveVery Low8.4
$11K
Strong windVery Low2.3
$9K
Ice stormVery Low5.7
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low12.1
$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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood3
Drought1
Fire1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 16, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Sep 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1973

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 64 storm reports in Saguache County since 1973, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $692,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 16, 1991.

7tornadoes
40hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
6damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 16, 1991F1–0 / 0
Jun 10, 1980F1–0 / 0
Sep 13, 2025EF1Sargents0 / 0
Jul 29, 1992F0–0 / 0
Jun 5, 2000F0Center0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 16, 1991Tornado–$250K
Sep 2, 1994HailCenter$200K
Jun 3, 2005Thunderstorm WindMoffat$100K
Jul 25, 1999Flash FloodSaguache$75K
Aug 22, 1993Hail–$55K
Sep 22, 2013Thunderstorm WindCrestone$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 13, 2025. 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 Saguache County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5,442paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1981costliest year, with $5,442 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 Saguache County

$212,600median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.1%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; 3,902 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
Fremont CountyLow13
Chaffee CountyLow3
Gunnison CountyLow7
Alamosa CountyVery Low5
Rio Grande CountyLow7
Huerfano CountyVery Low8
Custer CountyVery Low12
Mineral CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Saguache County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Saguache County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Saguache County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1 million.

How many federal disasters has Saguache County had?

Saguache County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in July 2015.

Is Saguache County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 46th 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 Saguache County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Saguache 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 Saguache County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Saguache County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 16, 1991. The weather service has also logged 40 hail reports and 6 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.