How Likely Is a Tornado in Chaffee County, CO?
Chaffee County, CO: what NOAA's tornado record says
Chaffee County has recorded 1 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 76.9 years - our Minimal band. Put another way: Chaffee County sees more tornado activity than 6% of US counties. Within Colorado alone, Chaffee County ranks 49 of 64 counties for tornado frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
1 weak and 0 significant tornadoes make up Chaffee County's 1-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Chaffee County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Colorado has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Colorado this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Chaffee County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Colorado regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Chaffee County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 1,013 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Chaffee County has about 20,780 residents.