Sweetwater County

Wyoming — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

30.6

National percentile: 31th

Sweetwater County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 30.6, 31th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $12M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 42K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $71K/yr
Winter Weather
High $339K/yr
Wildfire
Low $151K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 2.61 / yr $71K
Winter Weather High 13.01 / yr $339K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $151K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $728K
Cold Wave Low 1.19 / yr $2M
Lightning Low 38.54 / yr $337K
Riverine Flood Low 0.39 / yr $8M
Drought Very Low 119.96 / yr $4K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $13K
Hail Very Low 0.07 / yr $56K
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $14
Strong Wind Very Low 0.19 / yr $87K
Tornado Very Low 0.36 / yr $66K
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Heat Wave 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 Sweetwater County?

Sweetwater County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 30.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 31th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Sweetwater County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $71K EAL), Winter Weather (High, $339K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $151K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Sweetwater County compare to other Wyoming counties?

Sweetwater County ranks #13 of 23 Wyoming 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. Sweetwater County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.