Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Alamosa than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alamosa gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #2 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then earthquakes (26%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Alamosa’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Alamosa faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Alamosa’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Alamosa, and Alamosa’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 26% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #2 of 159 in Colorado; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Alamosa’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Colorado town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Alamosa has less expected damage per building than 99% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Alamosa: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Alamosa flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Alamosa, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Alamosa is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Alamosa County.The storms Alamosa remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Alamosa County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Alamosa itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19793 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19951 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Alamosa County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Alamosa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Alamosa archive →Alamosa and its neighbors
Alamosa has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamosa | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Alamosa East | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Alamosa faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Alamosa residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Alamosa
Is Alamosa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alamosa has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #2 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and earthquakes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Alamosa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Alamosa since 1979, $3K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Alamosa in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Alamosa County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Alamosa?
Alamosa is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Alamosa at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Alamosa’s rate for it is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Alamosa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Alamosa’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.