Storms, floods and disasters in Black Hawk
Black Hawk isn’t graded for hazard risk: Black Hawk has 106 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1998.
What Black Hawk 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
Wildfire
Hail
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.
Does Black Hawk flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Black Hawk, from FEMA’s records.
Black Hawk isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Gilpin County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Black Hawk
Disasters that paid out in Black Hawk itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Black Hawk), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Snow$6K to the City of Black Hawk for repairs
- 2003Snow$12K to the City of Black Hawk for repairs
Gilpin County has had 5 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 Black Hawk after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Black Hawk archive →Black Hawk and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | — | 525 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Black Hawk 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Black Hawk
Does Black Hawk flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Black Hawk since 1998, $8K in all.
Is Black Hawk 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 Gilpin County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Black Hawk?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Black Hawk’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Black Hawk?
By FEMA money that reached Black Hawk, Snow (2003): $12K to the City of Black Hawk for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Black Hawk.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Black Hawk’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.