Photo: Visitmontrose · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Montrose faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montrose gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #69 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Montrose 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
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 Montrose’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montrose, and Montrose’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 11% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #69 of 159 in Colorado; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montrose’s residents live in 9 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, Montrose has less expected damage per building than 57% of Colorado towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Montrose: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montrose flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montrose, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Montrose isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montrose County.The storms Montrose remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Montrose County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Montrose itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20161 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Montrose County has had 5 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 Montrose County, 2002–2002.
Old photos of Montrose after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montrose archive →Get ready for what Montrose 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.
- 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 Montrose
Is Montrose at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montrose has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #69 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and earthquakes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montrose flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Montrose since 1979, $33K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Montrose 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 Montrose County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Montrose?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montrose’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Montrose at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Montrose’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montrose.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montrose’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.