Home › Colorado › Teller County

Teller County, Colorado

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

Very Low overall risk
31st of 64highest risk in Colorado
$17Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

Wildfire

Moderate
$10.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 85 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$2.7 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 69 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate97.0
$11M
Inland floodingVery Low15.9
$3M
LightningHigh83.1
$1M
HailModerate78.8
$1M
TornadoLow28.0
$621K
Winter weatherModerate74.1
$220K
Strong windVery Low13.3
$150K
LandslideModerate92.2
$107K
EarthquakeVery Low23.3
$52K
Cold waveVery Low6.2
$45K
Ice stormVery Low8.5
$6K
Heat waveVery Low2.4
$19
AvalancheVery Low12.9
$18
Volcanic activityVery Low36.8
$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

Fire4
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2018Chateau FireFire management
Jun 28, 2012High Park and Waldo Canyon WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2008Nash Ranch FireFire management
Jan 7, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 23, 1973Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

13tornadoes
110hail reports, largest 2 inches
4damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 23, 2008EF1Woodland Park0 / 0
Jun 28, 1983F1–0 / 0
Jul 25, 1979F1–0 / 0
Jul 12, 1996F1Divide0 / 0
Jun 27, 2007EF1Woodland Park0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 1, 2002WildfireFlorissant$6M
Jun 9, 2002WildfireFlorissant$6M
Jul 16, 2004Flash FloodWoodland Park$500K
Apr 16, 2002WildfireFlorissant$40K
Aug 23, 2008TornadoWoodland Park$20K
Aug 22, 2013Flash FloodWoodland 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (37 policies)
23.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12,025paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $5,623 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 Teller County

$479,900median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.9%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; 13,674 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
El Paso CountyModerate18
Jefferson CountyHigh13
Douglas CountyModerate11
Fremont CountyLow13
Park CountyVery Low10

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.