Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0

–Not graded

Natural hazards in Gunnison · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Gunnison

Gunnison isn’t graded for hazard risk: Gunnison has 392 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1983.

Flood claims

paid since 1983 · $187K

Flooded more than once

properties

Disasters paid out here

of 20 declared for Bolivar County

By hazard

What Gunnison 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

60%of expected building damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

22%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts

Tornadoes

13%of expected building damage

Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Smaller shares here

Strong wind Hail Ice storms Hurricanes Cold waves top 1% Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Heat waves Landslides

FEMA models no building damage here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts drought at 8% of Gunnison’s expected losses. Drought does little damage to buildings (0.0%), 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.

Flood insurance claims

Does Gunnison flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1983

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gunnison, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year

19832011

19832026

Biggest named events

The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $173K

paid claims since 1983

$187K

paid to owners

homes flooded more than once

$47K

average claim

Homes that flooded again and again

FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones are insured

of all homes are insured

No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Bolivar County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3homes raised above flood level

Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gunnison

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

2026Severe Winter Storm96 households applied for aid$249K aid approved
2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$15K to the Town of Gunnison for repairs
2016Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$45K aid approved$2K to the Town of Gunnison for repairs
2011Flooding62 households applied for aid$502K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
2008Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$29K aid approved

Disasters declared, by decade

Paid out in GunnisonBolivar County only

Bolivar County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Gunnison archive →

Be ready

Get ready for what Gunnison faces

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

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.

Questions about natural hazards in Gunnison

Does Gunnison flood?

Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Gunnison since 1983, $187K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).

Is Gunnison 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 Bolivar County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Gunnison?

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

By FEMA money that reached Gunnison, Flooding (2011): 62 households applied for aid, $502K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $173K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gunnison.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gunnison’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.

Post to Gunnison

Check your email