7 flood insurance claims·$307,142 paid·1 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Chaffee County, Colorado. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood profile of Chaffee County. Over the past thirty years, the NOAA Storm Events Database records 20 flash flood events compared to only 2 general flood events.
Monsoonal moisture patterns drive these seasonal events over and near the mountains. For example, on July 1, 2021, afternoon thunderstorms produced flash flooding along the Upper Arkansas River Valley and the Highway 50 corridor. Another event occurred on July 1, 2022, when monsoonal moisture and a passing mid-level disturbance caused localized flash flooding and large hail.
National Flood Insurance Program records show claims across multiple zones with varying payout histories. Zone A recorded 3 claims with an average payout of $1,007 and an average recorded water depth of 1 inch. Zone X recorded 2 claims with an average payout of $304,825 and an average recorded water depth of 1 inch. Zone X_UNSHADED recorded 2 claims with an average payout of $1,310 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Property owners near mountain streams, rivers, and low-lying areas should pay the most attention to these localized flash flood risks during the summer thunderstorm season.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 1 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1995, with 2 claims and $1,310 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
8 NOAA storm reports from Chaffee County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Colorado flood stories →
5 federal disaster declarations since 2002, 1 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Mar 17, 2003 |
| Wildfires | Apr 23, 2002 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
22 since 1996: 20 flash floods and 2 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2017 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 4, 2022. Continued stream of moisture across the region produced numerous pockets of heavy rain leading to flash flooding, mainly in Fremont County.
Flash Flood · Jul 1, 2022. Monsoonal moisture along with a passing mid level disturbance assisted with afternoon and evening thunderstorm development. A few stronger storms did develop, producing isolated heavy rainfall with localized flash flooding, and large hail.
Flash Flood · Jul 23, 2021. Thunderstorm development across the higher terrain occurred once again on this day, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding the main concerns. Heavy rainfall with flash flooding and even pockets of damaging winds were all observed across the upper Arkansas River Valley.
Flash Flood · Jul 2, 2021. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms occurred through mid evening across the mountains, mountain valleys, and locations along and west of I-25. The severe threat was low, though a stronger storm or two did occur. An isolated flash flooding threat was also noted on this day, and did occur with the Spring Burn Scar observing heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Chaffee County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.