Colorado natural disasters & FEMA declarations
CO · 13th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Colorado has had 108 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 13th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (82 declarations, about 76% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Oak Fire" (Fire), on Aug 11, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Colorado, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 82 | 76% |
| Flood | 14 | 13% |
| Severe Storm | 3 | 3% |
| Snowstorm | 3 | 3% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Coastal Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
| Dam/Levee Break | 1 | 1% |
| Tornado | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 76 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 25 |
| Emergency (EM) | 7 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Colorado's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 4 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 43 |
| 2010s | 26 |
| 2020s | 17 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2025 | Oak Fire | Fire | FM-5606-CO |
| Aug 6, 2025 | Elk Fire | Fire | FM-5604-CO |
| Aug 6, 2025 | Lee Fire | Fire | FM-5603-CO |
| Aug 1, 2024 | Quarry Fire | Fire | FM-5526-CO |
| Jul 31, 2024 | Alexander Mountain Fire | Fire | FM-5524-CO |
| Jul 31, 2024 | Stone Mountain Fire | Fire | FM-5525-CO |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Colorado
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Colorado in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Colorado had?
Colorado has had 108 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 13th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Colorado?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Colorado is "Fire", with 82 declarations — about 76% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Colorado?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Colorado in this snapshot was "Oak Fire" (Fire), declared Aug 11, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18