Dolores County

Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

11.3

National percentile: 11th

Dolores County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 11.3, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche 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 Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 2K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
High $489K/yr
Avalanche
High $2M/yr
Wildfire
Low $348K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide High 0.37 / yr $489K
Avalanche High 0.43 / yr $2M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $348K
Lightning Medium 58.00 / yr $540K
Drought Low 94.22 / yr $89K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $84K
Winter Weather Very Low 32.17 / yr $9K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.29 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Very Low 0.06 / yr $6K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.02 / yr $21K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $1K
Tornado Very Low 0.02 / yr $5K
Hail Very Low 0.12 / yr $2K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.10 / yr $6K
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 Dolores County?

Dolores County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 11.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Dolores County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $489K EAL), Avalanche (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $348K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Dolores County compare to other Colorado counties?

Dolores County ranks #51 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. Dolores County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.