Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Denver as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Denver gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #821 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 2006.
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 Denver 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
Hurricanes
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 Denver’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Denver, and Denver’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #821 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Denver’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Denver has more expected damage per building than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Denver: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Denver flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Denver, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee7 claims · $168K
Denver isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lancaster County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Denver
Disasters that paid out in Denver itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Denver), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee97 households applied for aid$165K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $168K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$801 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Lancaster County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Denver after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Denver archive →Denver and its neighbors
Denver is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Cocalico Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| East Cocalico Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Denver | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Stevens | — | 799 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Reamstown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Denver 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Denver
Is Denver at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Denver has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #821 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (11%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Denver flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Denver since 2006, $246K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (7).
Is Denver 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 Lancaster County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Denver?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Denver’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 Denver?
By FEMA money that reached Denver, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 97 households applied for aid, $165K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 7 paid, $168K.
Is Denver at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Denver’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Denver.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Denver’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.