Every federal disaster in Colorado Springs since 1955
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered El Paso County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 22since 1955
- Major disasters
- 14the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 14declarations
- Most recent
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
FEMA's National Risk Index rates El Paso County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by winter weather, lightning and tornado. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 2023 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-4731 |
| Mar 28, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4498 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3436 |
| Jul 16, 2015 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4229 |
| Sep 14, 2013 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4145 |
| Sep 12, 2013 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Emergency | EM-3365 |
| Jul 26, 2013 | Black Forest Wildfire | Major disaster | DR-4134 |
| Jun 11, 2013 | Black Forest Fire | Fire management | FM-5027 |
| Jun 28, 2012 | High Park and Waldo Canyon Wildfires | Major disaster | DR-4067 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | Waldo Canyon Fire | Fire management | FM-2984 |
| Jan 7, 2007 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3270 |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3224 |
| Apr 9, 2003 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3185 |
| Jun 19, 2002 | Wildfires | Major disaster | DR-1421 |
| May 17, 1999 | Co-Flooding 4/30/99 | Major disaster | DR-1276 |
| Jan 29, 1977 | Drought | Emergency | EM-3025 |
| Aug 2, 1976 | Severe Storms & Flash Flooding | Major disaster | DR-517 |
| May 23, 1973 | Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-385 |
| May 19, 1969 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-261 |
| Jun 19, 1965 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-200 |
| Jun 12, 1956 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-59 |
| May 25, 1955 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-33 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Colorado Springs had?
Since 1955, the federal government has issued 22 disaster or emergency declarations covering El Paso County, including 14 major disaster declarations. 14 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Colorado Springs?
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (Major disaster, declared August 25, 2023).
What kinds of disasters hit Colorado Springs most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (9), fire (5), snowstorm (2) and biological (2).
New to Colorado Springs? The moving checklist covers flood maps and emergency alerts, and the risk summary shows FEMA's hazard ratings.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), downloaded October 18, 2026. We list declarations that named El Paso County, plus early statewide declarations from before FEMA designated individual counties. "Major disaster" declarations bring the widest federal aid; "emergency" declarations cover shorter-term help; "fire management" declarations help pay to fight large wildfires.