riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Dolores County Disaster Risk

Dolores County, Colorado

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

11th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#51

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

9th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Dolores County

Risk Verdict

Dolores County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 11th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Dolores County, scoring in the 80th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 33th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (9th), tornado (3th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Dolores County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Dolores County is notably safer than the average county in Colorado. Its composite risk score is 29.3 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Dolores County, CO?
Dolores County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 11th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Dolores County?
Dolores County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (80th percentile), earthquake (33th percentile), flooding (9th percentile), tornado (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 80th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Dolores County risk compare to the Colorado average?
Dolores County's composite risk percentile is 11th, compared to the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Dolores County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Colorado.
Is Dolores County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Dolores County's wildfire risk is at the 80th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Dolores County is at the 9th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Dolores County a safe place to live?
Dolores County's composite risk score of 11th percentile is below the Colorado state average of 41th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 80th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Jackson County

Colorado

+0.4

Very Low

12th percentile

San Juan County

Colorado

-0.6

Very Low

11th percentile

Washington County

Colorado

+0.7

Very Low

12th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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