Enter any address in Douglas County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Douglas County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 41 flash flood events compared to 5 flood events. Recent examples include a slow-moving thunderstorm system producing heavy rainfall across the county in May 2023, and another event in June 2024 that brought hail and heavy rainfall to the southeast part of the Denver Metro area.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the deepest water, with an average depth of 18.3 feet. Claims in Zone D also show significant water depths averaging 5.0 feet, with higher average payouts than other zones. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone X and Zone UNKNOWN, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Douglas County, Colorado has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 41 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Flood | Jun 8, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Co - Cherokee Ranch Wildfire - 10/29/2003 | Fire | Oct 29, 2003 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Mar 17, 2003 |
| Co - Schoonover Fire - 05/23/02 | Fire | May 21, 2002 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Drought | Drought | Jan 29, 1977 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Flood | May 12, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jun 14, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2014 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 22, 2013 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 14, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 12, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2012 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2024
Slow moving thunderstorms produced hail and heavy rainfall as they slowly drift south across the east/southeast part of the Denver Metro area. Additional storms track across Colorado producing hail up to 1 inch in Fairplay and Platteville. Plowable hail occurred under the Fairplay storm.
Flood — May 12, 2023
A slow moving storm system produced flooding and flash flooding across the urban corridor and northeast plains, with heavy snowfall in the higher mountains of the Front Range. Storm total rainfall during the 3-day event ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the urban corridor and Palmer Divide, with 2 to 5 inches across the plains. Additionally, from 1 to 2 feet of heavy wet snow occurred above 10...
Flood — Jun 14, 2015
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail up to golfball size. The combination of heavy rain and snowmelt also produced a prolonged period of flooding over southern Jefferson and southwestern Douglas County.
Flood — Jun 12, 2015
Thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall caused flooding and flash flooding across parts of the Urban Corridor and adjacent plains.
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2015
Thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall caused flooding and flash flooding across parts of the Urban Corridor and adjacent plains.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Douglas County, Colorado:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Douglas County, Colorado that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.