Garfield County
Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 65th
Garfield County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 64.5, 65th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $30M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 3.91 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Avalanche | High | 1.33 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 55.83 / yr | $986K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.68 / yr | $21M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $626K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $18 |
| Drought | Low | 66.90 / yr | $105K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $234K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $17K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $126K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 35.34 / yr | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $86K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $36K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $68K |
| 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 Garfield County?
Garfield County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 64.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 65th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Garfield County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Avalanche (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Garfield County compare to other Colorado counties?
Garfield County ranks #15 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. Garfield County's $30M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.