Chaffee County
Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 51th
Chaffee County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 51.1, 51th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.59 / yr | $489K |
| Avalanche | Very High | 0.30 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | High | 58.29 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $236K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.64 / yr | $13M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $183K |
| Hail | Low | 1.08 / yr | $211K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 22.76 / yr | $51K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5 |
| Drought | Very Low | 40.92 / yr | $32K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $125K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $14K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.64 / yr | $27K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $38K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chaffee County?
Chaffee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 51.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 51th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chaffee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $489K EAL), Avalanche (Very High, $5M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chaffee County compare to other Colorado counties?
Chaffee County ranks #21 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Chaffee County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.