42 flood insurance claims·$432,575 paid·7 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 Morgan 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 risk profile in Morgan County, accounting for the vast majority of historical flood events over the last 30 years compared to general riverine flooding. Recent occurrences highlight this localized threat, including slow-moving thunderstorms in August 2024 that produced up to four inches of rainfall, flash flooding, and road closures in Brush and north of Punkin Center. Similarly, heavy rainfall in August 2017 caused localized flash flooding near Brush, resulting in law enforcement closing two roadways for approximately one hour due to high water.
Property owners and real estate professionals should review National Flood Insurance Program claim data to understand vulnerability across different zones. Zone A leads the county with 25 historical claims averaging $10,456 per payout with an average recorded water depth of 5 inches. Meanwhile, Zone X recorded 7 claims with a higher average payout of $47,975 and an average recorded water depth of 1 inch, while Zone X shaded recorded 6 claims with an average payout of $5,771 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Properties categorized under Zone A, as well as those in moderate-to-low risk zones experiencing severe localized downpours, should pay the closest attention to these historical flood patterns.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
19% of Morgan County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
31 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 3 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 2013, with 7 claims and $328,086 paid, the year of Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides.
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.
16 NOAA storm reports from Morgan County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Colorado flood stories →
12 federal disaster declarations since 1965, 7 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | May 4, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Sep 11, 2013 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Mar 17, 2003 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Apr 11, 2001 |
| Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, Mudslides | Jul 28, 1997 |
| Heavy Rains, Snowmelt And Flooding | May 23, 1973 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | May 19, 1969 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
40 since 1996: 32 flash floods and 8 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2024 | $25,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2022 | $15,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2017 | $5,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2016 | $100,000 |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2015 | $150,000 |
| Flood | May 9, 2015 | $500,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2015 | $25,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 12, 2024. Slow moving thunderstorms produced flash flooding with up to four inches of rainfall reported in Brush and north of Punkin Center. In addition to the heavy rainfall, hail up to two inches in diameter and 68 mph winds were reported.
Flash Flood · Jul 24, 2022. In the Glen Haven and Crystal Mountain areas heavy rain produced flash flooding. Radar estimated 0.50 to 0.75 inch of rain in 30 minutes. Miller Fork washed over Larimer County Road 43 at Streamside Drive near The Retreat, closing the roadway. Streamside Drive was damaged but passable. Black Creek Drive in The Retreat was damaged pretty significantly. Every stream crossing along Black Creek Drive was reported…
Flash Flood · Aug 14, 2017. Localized flash flooding was observed near Brush. Law enforcement closed two roadways due to high water for approximately one hour.
Flash Flood · Jul 24, 2016. Severe thunderstorms produced damaging hail from quarter to baseball size. In addition, straight-line winds leveled a greenhouse and caused tree damage. Very heavy rain in Fort Morgan produced flash flooding. A peak wind gust to 74 mph was measured at Denver International Airport.
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 Morgan 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.