Natural Disasters in Sterling, CO
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
58.7
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
56.8
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
53.0
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
19.1
Score (0-100)
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster History & Federal Spending
Source: FEMATotal Declarations
12
Public Assistance
$2.3M
Individual Assistance
$702K
Most Common Type
Flood
7 declarations
Public Assistance by Category
| Disaster | Type | Date | PA $ | IA $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes → | Flood | Aug 2023 | $395K | — |
| Covid-19 Pandemic → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | $194K |
| Covid-19 → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | — |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Land… → | Flood | Jul 2015 | $1.3M | — |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and… → | Flood | Sep 2013 | $534K | $508K |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and… → | Flood | Sep 2013 | — | — |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation → | Coastal Storm | Sep 2005 | — | — |
| Severe Winter Storms → | Severe Storm | May 2001 | — | — |
| Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods,… → | Flood | Aug 1997 | — | — |
| Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and Flooding → | Flood | May 1973 | — | — |
| Severe Storms & Flooding → | Flood | May 1969 | — | — |
| Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding → | Tornado | Jun 1965 | — | — |
PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
74
Total Claims Paid
$846,931
Avg Claim Payout
$11,445
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
5
Federal Funding
$218,984
Properties Protected
2
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
2.80
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 100.1: Public Awareness and Education (Brochures, Workshops, Videos, etc.); 206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures | 1 | $26,117 |
| 403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts | 1 | $44,153 |
| 601.1: Generators | 1 | $47,547 |
| 701.1: Technical Assistance - Outreach/Training; 701.2: Technical Assistance - Application Development/Review; 701.3: Technical Assistance - Salaries & Expenses | 1 | $7,811 |
| 405.1: Other Minor Flood Control | 1 | $93,356 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Sterling has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hail, strong wind, drought. The area has had 12 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (7 declarations). 74 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,255,620 in public assistance recovery funding. $701,924 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 5 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.