FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Douglas County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.126 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Douglas County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.126 per year for cold wave. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Douglas County.
Cold Wave
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
98.2/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Douglas County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Highlands Ranch, FEMA rates cold wave risk for Douglas County as very high, with a relative score of 98.2/100. The next highest relative scores are wildfire at 96.1/100 and tornado at 93.5/100.
Using FEMA data for Douglas County, Highlands Ranch is #4 among 16 covered Colorado entries for cold wave risk. Centennial is about 6.5 straight-line miles from the Highlands Ranch map point; its FEMA figures cover Arapahoe County.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Highlands Ranch? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Highlands Ranch. All FEMA figures on this page cover Douglas County.
The FEMA figures cover Douglas County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Douglas County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 0.126 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 16 Colorado cities covered by this directory, Highlands Ranch is #4 for relative cold wave risk based on FEMA's score for Douglas County. Homes within Highlands Ranch can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Douglas County, the highest relative ratings are Cold Wave (Very High), Wildfire (Relatively Moderate), and Tornado (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Douglas County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Douglas County an overall relative risk rating of relatively low. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Cold Wave rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial, CO | 7 mi | Relatively High | 92.7 |
| Lakewood, CO | 13 mi | Relatively Moderate | 81.9 |
| Denver, CO | 16 mi | Very High | 97.9 |
| Aurora, CO | 17 mi | Relatively High | 92.7 |
| Arvada, CO | 22 mi | Relatively Moderate | 81.9 |
Limited to products tagged for cold wave or general preparedness.
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.