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Natural hazard risk in La Plata County, Colorado

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 75.1 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$39.5 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1970
8[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.3 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
5[4]

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for La Plata County, Colorado as Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 75.1 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are wildfire, avalanche and landslide[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates overall risk as Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 hazards at $39.5 million a year[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. By Expected Annual Loss, the largest hazards are inland flooding, wildfire and avalanche, in that order[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability as Relatively Low[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience as Relatively Moderate[10]. Social vulnerability describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards, and community resilience describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[9][10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
WildfireRelatively Moderate$10.7 million[11]
AvalancheRelatively High$1.8 million[12]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$51,000[13]
LightningRelatively High$1.1 million[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$24.3 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$975,000[16]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$121,000[17]
DroughtRelatively Low$142,000[18]
Ice StormVery Low$21,000[19]
TornadoVery Low$181,000[20]
Strong WindVery Low$90,000[21]
Heat WaveVery Low$9,790[22]
HailVery Low$20,000[23]
Cold WaveVery Low$55[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low21.0[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate48.3[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[15]. OpenFEMA lists 336 residential flood insurance contracts in force in La Plata County as of 2026-08-03[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 16.5% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data shows 67 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.3 million in total[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[15] Relatively Moderate, $24.3 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 336 of 25,478 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 1,028, of which 170 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 67 filed, $1.3 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 8 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include La Plata County since 1970[2]. By incident type these are fire 4, flood 2, drought 1 and coastal storm 1[2]. NOAA's tornado database records 5 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The strongest were rated F1, and the most recent was on 2004-10-05[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include La Plata County, since 1970
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 4
Flood[2] 2
Drought[2] 1
Coastal Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3224-CO[28] Hurricane Katrina Evacuation 2005-09-05
FM-2432-CO[28] Valley Fire 2002-06-25
DR-1421-CO[28] Wildfires 2002-06-19
FM-2423-CO[28] Missionary Ridge Fire 2002-06-11
FM-2418-CO[28] Ute Pass Fire 2002-06-07

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Wildfires

Before

  • Sign up for community alerts and watch for air quality alerts.
  • Make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan, including for school, work and other places you go often.
  • Keep a fire-resistant zone of at least 30 feet around your home, clear of leaves and debris.
  • Use fire-resistant building materials and keep a hose long enough to reach every part of your property.
  • Pick a room you can seal off from outside air and keep a portable air cleaner ready.

During

  • Leave right away when authorities tell you to evacuate.
  • If you are trapped, call 9-1-1 with your location and turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • If you are not ordered to leave but there is smoke, stay in a safe indoor place or go to a community building with less smoke.

Source: Ready.gov, wildfires

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Questions people ask

Is La Plata County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[15]. FEMA lists inland flooding as the largest source of Expected Annual Loss in the county[8].
Is La Plata County at risk of tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[20]. NOAA's tornado database records 5 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is La Plata County at risk of wildfire?
FEMA rates wildfire risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 97.5 out of 100[11]. Wildfire has the highest hazard score within the county[6].
Is La Plata County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane as Not Applicable for La Plata County[25]. FEMA uses that rating when its data has no historical record of the hazard and it is not considered geographically possible there[25].
How many disasters have been declared in La Plata County?
OpenFEMA lists 8 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include La Plata County since 1970[2]. The most recent listed was declared 2005-09-05[28].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in La Plata County is $39.5 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 79.4). Of this, buildings account for $35.6 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $3.8... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 8 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include La Plata County since 1970 (3 major disaster, 5 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 4, flood 2, drought 1, coastal storm 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other non-natural... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 67 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in La Plata County, 47 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.3 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 5 recorded tornadoes touched La Plata County. The strongest were rated F1 (most recent of them on 2004-10-05). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2004-10-05. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for La Plata County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 75.1 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for La Plata County are wildfire (97.5, Relatively Moderate), avalanche (88.4, Relatively High), landslide (87.8, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for La Plata County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($24.3 million a year), wildfire ($10.7 million a year), avalanche ($1.8 million a year), out of $39.5 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for La Plata County is Relatively Low (score 21.0). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for La Plata County is Relatively Moderate (score 48.3). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 97.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.7 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0029 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 88.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.47 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 87.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $51,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 85.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 65.36 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 81.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $24.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 70.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $975,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0014 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 64.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $121,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 28.37 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 47.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $142,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 68.14 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 21.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $21,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 15.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $181,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 10.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $90,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.1 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 6.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $9,790 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.03 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 6.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.13 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in La Plata County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 2.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $55 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for La Plata County: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 336 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in La Plata County, out of 25,478 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1.3%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 1,028 residential structures and 170 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.