San Miguel County

Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

19.1

National percentile: 19th

San Miguel County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.1, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by avalanche and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $10M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 8K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Avalanche
High $4M/yr
Landslide
Low $51K/yr
Wildfire
Low $582K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Avalanche High 1.00 / yr $4M
Landslide Low 0.77 / yr $51K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $582K
Lightning Low 56.76 / yr $408K
Winter Weather Low 21.15 / yr $74K
Riverine Flood Very Low 1.21 / yr $5M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $123K
Drought Very Low 82.46 / yr $13K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.25 / yr $15K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $3K
Tornado Very Low 0.02 / yr $13K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.00 / yr $910
Strong Wind Very Low 0.11 / yr $15K
Hail Very Low 0.11 / yr $3K
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 San Miguel County?

San Miguel County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 19th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in San Miguel County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Avalanche (High, $4M EAL), Landslide (Low, $51K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $582K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does San Miguel County compare to other Colorado counties?

San Miguel County ranks #44 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. San Miguel County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.