Photo: Salvez Dodd from Portland, OR, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Inverness faces less hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from hail
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Inverness gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #20 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is hail (60%), then river and rain flooding (18%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Inverness’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Inverness faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hail
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
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 Inverness’ grade
Hail is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Inverness, and Inverness’ rate of hail damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 18% (among the lowest of U.S. census tracts).
A− #20 of 159 in Colorado; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Inverness’ 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, Inverness has less expected damage per building than 88% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Inverness: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Inverness flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Inverness. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Inverness isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Arapahoe County.The storms Inverness remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Arapahoe County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Inverness itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Arapahoe County has had 8 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.
Inverness and its neighbors
Inverness has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness | A−less damage than 76% | hail | 0 |
| Centennial | B−more damage than 51% | hail | 15 |
| Dove Valley | C+more damage than 56% | 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 Inverness faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Inverness
Is Inverness at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Inverness has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #20 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is hail (60%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Inverness 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 Arapahoe County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Inverness?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Inverness’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Inverness at risk from hail?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Inverness’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Inverness.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Inverness’ 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.