FEMA Flood Zone Lookup in Colorado

Colorado's flood risk centers on urban flash flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and extreme events along the Front Range. The September 2013 Colorado floods were the state's most devastating, when a slow-moving storm dumped over 20 inches of rain on parts of Boulder County creating a flood zone 200 miles long and killing 10 people with over $2 billion in damage. The Big Thompson Canyon has experienced catastrophic floods twice in 1976 and 2013. Denver faces increasing flash flood risk as urbanization expands impervious surfaces across the South Platte River watershed. Colorado's wildfire burn scar areas create extreme debris flow risk, as demonstrated by the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County. The state's unique geography from 14,000-foot peaks to 3,500-foot plains within 60 miles creates rapid concentrated runoff events. Larimer County and the Cache la Poudre River corridor have experienced repeated flood events. El Paso County including Colorado Springs faces flash flood risk from the Arkansas River watershed and Fountain Creek. While Colorado has fewer NFIP-participating communities due to lower population density, the state averages 3-5 significant flood events annually with flood damage costs exceeding $5 billion since 2000.