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WPDowntownPhoto: Uckrist · Public domain
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Woodland Park · FEMA

FEMA puts Woodland Park’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from wildfire

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodland Park gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #145 of 159 in Colorado. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (63%), then river and rain flooding (22%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2004.

Wildfire 63%River and rain flooding 22%Hail 10%

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

more than 90%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#145 of 159 in Colorado
Hazard risk
D#145 of 159
in Colorado · higher than 90% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Wildfire
63% of expected building damage
Flood claims
3
paid since 2004 · $11K
Disasters paid out here
3
of 8 declared for Teller County

What stands out about Woodland Park’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Wildfire: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for wildfire here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 63.1% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way4 flood-prone homes bought out and moved with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Woodland Park faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Wildfire

63%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

22%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Hail

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 7 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Earthquakes Winter storms Lightning Ice storms Cold waves Landslides Volcanic activity
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesHeat wavesAvalanchesTsunamis
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts lightning at 8% of Woodland Park’s expected losses. Lightning does little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Woodland Park’s grade

Wildfire is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodland Park, and Woodland Park’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Woodland Park sits
Woodland Park
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #145 of 159 in Colorado; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Woodland Park’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Wildfire63%River and rain flooding22%Hail10%Everything else5%

The typical Colorado town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Woodland Park has more expected damage per building than 91% of Colorado towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Woodland Park: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Woodland Park covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Woodland Park flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2004

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodland Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200420132014
20042026
3
paid claims since 2004
$11K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$4K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Woodland Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Teller County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
4flood-prone homes bought out and moved
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodland Park

Disasters that paid out in Woodland Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Woodland Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2012High Park and Waldo Canyon Wildfires$24K to the City of Woodland Park for repairs
  2. 2006Snow$16K to the City of Woodland Park for repairs
  3. 2003Snow$9K to the City of Woodland Park for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Woodland ParkTeller County only

Teller County has had 8 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.

Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Teller County, 2008–2018.

Were you here?

Old photos of Woodland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Woodland Park archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Woodland Park faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Wildfire
  • Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
  • Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
  • Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Woodland Park

Is Woodland Park at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodland Park has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #145 of 159 in Colorado. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (63%) and river and rain flooding (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Woodland Park flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Woodland Park since 2004, $11K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Is Woodland Park 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 Teller County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Woodland Park?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodland Park’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 Woodland Park?

By FEMA money that reached Woodland Park, High Park and Waldo Canyon Wildfires (2012): $24K to the City of Woodland Park for repairs.

Is Woodland Park at risk from wildfire?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Woodland Park’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodland Park.

Town Square →
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Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodland Park’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.