Photo: SunDawn · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Frisco than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frisco gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #98 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1995.
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 Frisco 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
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.
What’s behind Frisco’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Frisco, and Frisco’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 6% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #98 of 159 in Colorado; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Frisco’s residents live in 2 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, Frisco has more expected damage per building than 61% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Frisco: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Frisco flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Frisco, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Frisco is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Summit County.The storms Frisco remembers
None of the 3 disasters declared for Summit County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Frisco itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19952 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Summit County has had 3 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Frisco after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Frisco archive →Get ready for what Frisco 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.
- 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.
- Frisco 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 Frisco
Is Frisco at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frisco has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #98 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hail (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Frisco flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Frisco since 1995, $921 in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Frisco 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 Summit County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Frisco?
Frisco 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 Frisco at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Frisco’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Frisco.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Frisco’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.