Bent County

Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

5.6

National percentile: 6th

Bent County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 5.6, 6th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $4M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 6K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $541K/yr
Wildfire
Low $149K/yr
Hail
Low $555K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 119.30 / yr $541K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $149K
Hail Low 3.30 / yr $555K
Strong Wind Low 0.99 / yr $576K
Lightning Low 44.38 / yr $141K
Winter Weather Low 6.79 / yr $37K
Cold Wave Low 2.00 / yr $459K
Tornado Very Low 0.81 / yr $284K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $25K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.47 / yr $15K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.54 / yr $1M
Landslide Very Low 0.20 / yr $5
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $853
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Hurricane Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bent County?

Bent County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 5.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 6th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Bent County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $541K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $149K EAL), Hail (Low, $555K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Bent County compare to other Colorado counties?

Bent County ranks #58 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bent County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.