Gunnison River Bridge I · Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Gunnison than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gunnison gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #48 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1984.
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 Gunnison’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gunnison 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
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 Gunnison’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gunnison, and Gunnison’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
B #48 of 159 in Colorado; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gunnison’s residents live in 3 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, Gunnison has less expected damage per building than 70% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Gunnison: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gunnison flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gunnison, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Gunnison is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Gunnison County.The storms Gunnison remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Gunnison County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Gunnison itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19842 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides and Flooding, declared for Gunnison County
Gunnison County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Gunnison County, 2002–2002.
Old photos of Gunnison after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gunnison archive →Get ready for what Gunnison 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.
- 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.
- Gunnison 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 Gunnison
Is Gunnison at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gunnison has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #48 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gunnison flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Gunnison since 1984, $6K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Gunnison 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 Gunnison County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gunnison?
Gunnison 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 Gunnison at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Gunnison’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gunnison.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gunnison’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.