Enter any address in Rio Grande County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Rio Grande County, Colorado has recorded 5 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 2 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 (1970–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| West Fork Fire Complex | Fire | Jun 21, 2013 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Million Fire | Fire | Jun 19, 2002 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Drought | Drought | Jan 29, 1977 |
| Flooding & Landslides | Flood | Jul 6, 1973 |
| Heavy Rains & Flooding | Flood | Sep 22, 1970 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2003 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2003 | — |
| Flood | Apr 30, 1999 | 25K |
| Flood | May 1, 1999 | — |
Flood — Apr 30, 1999
Rainfall amounts of 6 to 13 inches from Wednesday night to Friday night caused fast rushing water and major flooding from the Fountain Creek watershed to the Arkansas River east of Pueblo. Heavy rain in the mountains and adjacent plains upstream from Pueblo on the Arkansas River caused flooding in Custer, Fremont and Pueblo counties as well. In Pueblo county, damage was done to roads, irriga...
Flood — May 1, 1999
The most significant river flooding along the Arkansas River since at least 1965 was caused by widespread and persistent rainfall...especially along the eastern slopes of the southeast mountains. The heaviest rainfall occurred from late in the day on the 28th of April and persisted into the afternoon hours of April 30th. Widespread rainfall totals in excess of 8 inches was noted in 40 hours w...
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 Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande 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.