Enter any address in Elbert County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates Elbert County's flood events. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 22 flash flood events compared to 4 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding near Limon in June 2023, which led to road closures and water rescues, and another flash flood event in August 2024 associated with severe thunderstorms.
While most flood insurance claims in Elbert County have occurred in Zone X, which typically has a lower flood risk, one claim in this zone resulted in an average payout of $0 with an average water depth of -8.0 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation, particularly those near drainage paths or in low-lying areas, should remain aware of potential flood risks.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Elbert County, Colorado has recorded 26 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 22 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 5 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | May 4, 2015 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Mar 17, 2003 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Flooding 4/30/99 | Severe Storm | Apr 29, 1999 |
| Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, Mudslides | Flood | Jul 28, 1997 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 22, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2019 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2015 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2015 | 15.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 19, 2024
Severe thunderstorms developed along a convergence boundary that stretched from Limon to Sterling. The storms produce hail up to an inch and a half in diameter, winds to 60 mph, two landspout tornadoes and flash flooding.
Flood — Aug 13, 2024
Thunderstorms tracked across eastern Colorado August 13th producing strong to damaging winds. A wind gust of 83 mph was reported was four miles north-northeast of Elizabeth. The strongest wind gust of the day. The Fire department reported a collapsed outbuilding due to wind damage near intersection of Private Road 160 and County Road 21 near where the 83 mph wind gust was reported.
Flood — Jun 22, 2023
Long duration severe weather event across the northeast plains, and most of the Denver metropolitan area beginning during the early afternoon hours. Scores of tornadoes occurred across Washington and Logan counties. Several rounds of hail across the Denver metro, with ping pong ball sized hail in downtown, larger hail up to 2 inches in diameter at concert in Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In all,...
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2023
Very heavy rain occurred across some areas of northeast Colorado from June 11th until the early hours of June 12th with flash flooding in some areas. The worst areas were south and southeast of Fort Collins towards Timnath and Windsor and in the Milliken area. Locations in these areas received from 3.0 to 5.5 inches of rain. Another area was located in and near Limon where significant flash...
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2019
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging wind across parts of Elbert, Logan, Weld and Washington counties. The hail ranged in size from quarter to golfball size. Intense outflow winds, associated with a wet microburst, damaged trees and crops in Washington County. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain fell over southeast Elbert and west central Lincoln County. State Highway 71 was flo...
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 Elbert 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 Elbert 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.