Storm and Flood Damage in Black Forest, CO

Updated November 12, 2026

The storm risk in Black Forest changed in June 2013. The Black Forest fire burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed nearly 500 homes, and until the Marshall Fire in 2021 it was the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. The trees came back slowly. The ground did not absorb water the way it had under a full forest, and in the summers that followed, heavy rain over the burn scar sent fast, muddy water across driveways, roads and lots. The National Weather Service has issued flood advisories for the burn scar in several summers since.

That history sits on top of the usual Front Range storm threats: hail from May to August, monsoon cloudbursts in July and August, wind, and heavy wet snow in spring.

How storm water gets into Black Forest homes

Runoff from burned or bare ground

Burned soil can repel water at first, and slopes with less vegetation shed rain quickly. Water picks up ash, sand and debris and follows the lowest path, which can be a driveway that leads straight to a garage or a walkout door. If your lot is downhill from burned ground, look at where that path ends. Our post on flash flooding and burn scars explains why the risk stays high for years.

Hail and wind on the roof

Hail cracks shingles and splits vent boots, and the leak may not show until the next storm. Wind lifts shingles along ridges and edges. Under pine cover, needles packed in valleys and gutters hold water against the roof and push it under the shingle edge.

Trees and limbs

Ponderosa pines are the reason people live here, and also a roof risk. Heavy spring snow loads branches until they break, and wind can drop dead trees that the fire left standing. A limb through the roof lets snow and rain in fast.

Lower-level entry

Storm water that fills window wells or reaches a walkout door ends up in the basement. Our Black Forest basement flooding page covers the details, including septic systems that back up after a wet spell.

Right after the storm

• Check the attic, upstairs ceilings and any skylights for drips or bulges.
• Look at the lower level, especially along walls that face uphill.
• Photograph hail, fallen limbs, roof damage and any water marks inside.
• If muddy water came into the house, stay out of it until the power to that area is off.
• If runoff came near your wellhead, plan to test the water before drinking it. El Paso County Public Health can tell you what to test for.

Access during and after storms

Black Forest roads and long driveways can wash out, ice over or fill with downed limbs. When you call, tell the dispatcher about any washouts, trees across the lane, gates and where a truck can park. It helps the crew show up with what they need.

What the crew does

The first step is to stop more water: tarping a roof, boarding a broken window or diverting runoff with sandbags or a temporary berm. Next comes mapping moisture in attics, ceilings and walls. Muddy runoff is extracted, and silt is shoveled out before cleaning. Wet insulation and contaminated drywall, flooring and carpet are removed. Then drying equipment runs, with daily meter readings, until materials reach normal levels. If water reached the area around the septic tank or field, the crew will avoid putting more water into it.

What affects the cost

The source of the water, how much mud and debris came with it, square footage, roof tarping or tree removal, generator use if the power is out, access, after-hours response and whether you want drying only or the full rebuild. The company that inspects provides the real figure in writing before work begins.

Insurance notes for storm claims

Hail and wind damage to the roof is usually a wind and hail claim, and many Colorado policies carry a separate, higher deductible for it. Water that enters through that damage is often handled under the same claim. Runoff across the ground is flood, and that needs a flood policy. A tree falling on the house is often covered, but the removal of a tree that fell in the yard without hitting anything may not be. Our post on what homeowners insurance covers in Colorado explains the differences.

Black Forest pages and services

General drying work is on Black Forest water damage restoration. The full storm and flood damage page covers the service across the area, and the Black Forest area page covers the community.

Sources and official resources

• Contractor license lookup (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department)
• Homeowners insurance help (Colorado Division of Insurance)
• IICRC: restoration industry standards body
• Flood insurance basics (FEMA FloodSmart)
• Colorado Springs weather warnings (National Weather Service, Pueblo)