Enter any address in Prowers County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates Prowers County's flood events. In recent years, this has included incidents such as a flash flood on July 6, 2023, fueled by residual moisture and severe weather patterns, and another on June 6, 2022, where intense rainfall rates from storms moving off higher terrain caused flash flooding across the plains.
While flash flooding is most common, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has recorded claims in various flood zones. Notably, Zone X_UNSHADED areas have seen claims with an average payout of $5,401 and an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Zone A areas have also experienced claims, averaging $1,581 with 0.5 feet of water depth. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or X_UNSHADED, as well as those near waterways, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Prowers County, Colorado has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 28 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations, 3 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 28, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Apr 11, 2001 |
| Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, Mudslides | Flood | Jul 28, 1997 |
| Drought | Drought | Jan 29, 1977 |
| Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding | Tornado | Jun 19, 1965 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 6, 2023
Residual moisture from an incredibly anomalously wet June continues to moisten the lower levels aiding in ample amounts of instability. The northwest flow pattern created a lot of shear, which led to prolonged 3 day severe weather event over adjacent and eastern plains of southern Colorado.
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2022
A more significant and widespread day of severe weather occurred across much of southeastern Colorado during the afternoon and evening of June 7th. Numerous reports of large damaging hail, funnel clouds, and tornadoes occurred across the region.
Flash Flood — Jun 6, 2022
Strong to severe storms developed along the foothills and Palmer Divide in eastern Colorado and moved south-southeast out across the plains. Storms quickly became severe moving off the higher terrain onto the warm and moist plains producing intense rainfall rates, flash flooding, and large damaging hail through the late evening hours.
Flash Flood — Jul 4, 2021
Isolated thunderstorm development was once again noted across the eastern plains on this day, with a few strong to severe storms producing large hail and heavy rainfall with flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2021
Isolated to scattered storms occurred across the eastern mountains and plains, with the highest coverage noted over the far southeast plains. A diminishing trend with this development occurred on this day, however, a few storms did produce heavy rainfall with flash flooding.
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 Prowers 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 Prowers 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.