How Likely Is a Tornado in Las Animas County, CO?
Las Animas County, CO: what NOAA's tornado record says
Las Animas County has recorded 38 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 2 years - our Elevated band. Put another way: Las Animas County sees more tornado activity than 78% of US counties. Colorado has 64 counties in this dataset; Las Animas County ranks 20 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
30 weak and 1 significant tornadoes make up Las Animas County's 38-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Las Animas 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 Las Animas 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 Las Animas County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 4,773 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. Las Animas County has about 14,518 residents.