Shannon Farm · Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Lafayette faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lafayette gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #25 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then hail (14%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011.
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 Lafayette 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
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 Lafayette’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lafayette, and Lafayette’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 14%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #25 of 159 in Colorado; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lafayette’s residents live in 10 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, Lafayette has less expected damage per building than 85% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.4M a year in losses across Lafayette: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lafayette flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lafayette, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late summer storms1 claim · $2K
Lafayette isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Boulder County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lafayette
Disasters that paid out in Lafayette itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lafayette), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Wildfires and Straight-line Winds34 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$82K to the City of Lafayette for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides158 households applied for aid$253K aid approved$951K to the City of Lafayette for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Snow$29K to the City of Lafayette for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the City of Lafayette for repairs
Boulder County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 7 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Boulder County, 2000–2024.
Old photos of Lafayette after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lafayette archive →Lafayette and its neighbors
Lafayette is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broomfield | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lafayette | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Erie | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Louisville | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Leyner | — | 0 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 Lafayette 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.
- 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 Lafayette
Is Lafayette at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lafayette has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #25 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and hail (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lafayette flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Lafayette since 2011, $5K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late summer storms (1).
Is Lafayette 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 Boulder County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lafayette?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lafayette’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 Lafayette?
By FEMA money that reached Lafayette, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2013): 158 households applied for aid, $253K approved, and $951K to the City of Lafayette for repairs. By flood claims, Late summer storms: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Lafayette at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Lafayette’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lafayette.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lafayette’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.