Washington County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Washington County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $905 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Washington County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 15.6 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 50.3 | $797K | ||
| Strong wind | 60.6 | $611K | ||
| Hail | 76.5 | $604K | ||
| Tornado | 32.2 | $481K | ||
| Drought | 46.6 | $95K | ||
| Wildfire | 60.5 | $71K | ||
| Winter weather | 38.4 | $35K | ||
| Ice storm | 32.8 | $31K | ||
| Earthquake | 22.9 | $30K | ||
| Lightning | 8.7 | $23K | ||
| Heat wave | 9.3 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 3.4 | $3 |
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 high 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 Washington 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 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,158 storm reports in Washington County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $18.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 30, 1996 near Elba.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1996 | F3 | Elba | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1975 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 26, 1952 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 2023 | EF2 | Elba | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 20, 1958 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2013 | Flood | Messex | $10M |
| Jun 15, 2015 | Flood | Messex | $6M |
| Jun 24, 1996 | Hail | Akron | $1M |
| May 30, 1996 | Tornado | Elba | $300K |
| Jun 26, 1952 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 19, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anton | $200K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 Washington 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 Washington 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; 2,287 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe County | 10 | |
| Adams County | 10 | |
| Morgan County | 10 | |
| Logan County | 10 | |
| Yuma County | 5 | |
| Kit Carson County | 5 | |
| Lincoln County | 8 |
Common questions about Washington County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Washington County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Washington County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $797,267.
How many federal disasters has Washington County had?
Washington County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.
Is Washington County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 Washington County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Washington County had?
NOAA records list 213 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 30, 1996 near Elba. The weather service has also logged 679 hail reports and 29 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.