Photo: Dennis Adams, Federal Highway Administration; color-corrected by Howcheng. · Public domainFEMA puts Leadville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leadville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #30 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). 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 Leadville 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
Earthquakes
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 Leadville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Leadville, and Leadville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #30 of 159 in Colorado; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Leadville’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, Leadville has less expected damage per building than 82% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $663K a year in losses across Leadville: $547K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Leadville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Leadville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Leadville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lake County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Leadville
Disasters that paid out in Leadville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Leadville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$15K to the City of Leadville for repairs
Lake County has had 2 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Lake County, 2026–2026.
Old photos of Leadville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leadville archive →Leadville and its neighbors
Leadville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadville | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Leadville North | B+less damage than 65% | 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 Leadville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Leadville
Is Leadville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leadville has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #30 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Leadville 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 Lake County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Leadville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leadville’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 Leadville?
By FEMA money that reached Leadville, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2013): $15K to the City of Leadville for repairs.
Is Leadville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Leadville’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leadville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leadville’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.