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San Miguel County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
44th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$10Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 37homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

San Miguel County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, avalanches and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,252 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 September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). About 1 in 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance (147 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $133,000 on 18 claims here.

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

Top risks in San Miguel County

$5.2 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.
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
$582,243 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 550 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 floodingVery Low31.6
$5M
AvalancheHigh93.7
$4M
WildfireLow80.1
$582K
LightningLow56.0
$408K
EarthquakeVery Low31.4
$123K
Winter weatherLow43.7
$74K
LandslideLow86.3
$51K
Strong windVery Low2.3
$15K
Heat waveVery Low7.2
$15K
TornadoVery Low3.4
$13K
DroughtVery Low23.5
$13K
Ice stormVery Low5.3
$3K
HailVery Low1.6
$3K
Cold waveVery Low3.2
$910

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood3
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 15, 2002Co - Burn Canyon Fire - 07/15/02Fire management
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jul 6, 1973Flooding & LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1981

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 97 storm reports in San Miguel County since 1981 and about $1.1 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 1 inches
2damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 20, 2021Debris FlowTelluride Arpt$500K
Aug 8, 2001Flash FloodTelluride$400K
Aug 3, 2003Flash FloodPlacerville$100K
Jul 31, 1999Flash FloodEast Portion$50K
Aug 13, 2003Flash FloodTelluride$20K
Jul 31, 2021Debris FlowSawpit$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 11, 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 San Miguel County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (147 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$132,604paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $89,368 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 San Miguel County

$720,700median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
23%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.7%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; 6,656 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
Montrose CountyLow7
San Juan County, UTVery Low4
Ouray CountyVery Low8
Dolores CountyVery Low7
San Juan CountyVery Low4

Common questions about San Miguel County

What is the biggest natural hazard in San Miguel County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Miguel County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $3.5 million.

How many federal disasters has San Miguel County had?

San Miguel County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is San Miguel County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 44th 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 San Miguel County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 37 homes in San Miguel 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 San Miguel County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in San Miguel County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 35 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.