Photo: Junkyard kahrs at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Lamar than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lamar gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #135 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1979.
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 Lamar 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 Lamar’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lamar, and Lamar’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 5%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #135 of 159 in Colorado; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lamar’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, Lamar has more expected damage per building than 85% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Lamar: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lamar flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lamar, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lamar isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prowers County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lamar
Disasters that paid out in Lamar itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lamar), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Snow$61K to the City of Lamar for repairs
Prowers County has had 6 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.
Old photos of Lamar after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lamar archive →Get ready for what Lamar 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Lamar
Is Lamar at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lamar has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #135 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lamar flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Lamar since 1979, $7K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lamar 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 Prowers County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lamar?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lamar’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 Lamar?
By FEMA money that reached Lamar, Snow (2006): $61K to the City of Lamar for repairs.
Is Lamar at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Lamar’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lamar.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lamar’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.