Teller County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Teller County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 61% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and lightning. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $682 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). Only 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $12,000 on 10 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Teller County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 97.0 | $11M | ||
| Inland flooding | 15.9 | $3M | ||
| Lightning | 83.1 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 78.8 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 28.0 | $621K | ||
| Winter weather | 74.1 | $220K | ||
| Strong wind | 13.3 | $150K | ||
| Landslide | 92.2 | $107K | ||
| Earthquake | 23.3 | $52K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.2 | $45K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.5 | $6K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.4 | $19 | ||
| Avalanche | 12.9 | $18 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 36.8 | $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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Teller County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1968
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 163 storm reports in Teller County since 1968, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries and about $12.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on August 23, 2008 near Woodland Park.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2008 | EF1 | Woodland Park | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 25, 1979 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1996 | F1 | Divide | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 2007 | EF1 | Woodland Park | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2002 | Wildfire | Florissant | $6M |
| Jun 9, 2002 | Wildfire | Florissant | $6M |
| Jul 16, 2004 | Flash Flood | Woodland Park | $500K |
| Apr 16, 2002 | Wildfire | Florissant | $40K |
| Aug 23, 2008 | Tornado | Woodland Park | $20K |
| Aug 22, 2013 | Flash Flood | Woodland Park | $10K |
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 Teller 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 Teller 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; 13,674 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 | |
| Jefferson County | 13 | |
| Douglas County | 11 | |
| Fremont County | 13 | |
| Park County | 10 |
Common questions about Teller County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Teller County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Teller County, about $10.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Teller County had?
Teller County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.
Is Teller County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 31st 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 Teller County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Teller 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 Teller County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Teller County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on August 23, 2008 near Woodland Park. The weather service has also logged 110 hail reports and 26 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.