El Paso County Disaster Risk
El Paso County, Colorado
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Moderate
National Percentile
94th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#3
of 64 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
95th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Relatively High
Higher than 95% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Relatively High
Higher than 99% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Relatively High
Higher than 97% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 75% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in El Paso County, Colorado
El Paso faces near-extreme disaster risk
El Paso County scores 94.05 on composite disaster risk, rated Relatively Moderate—more than double Colorado's state average of 40.67. This high score reflects critical vulnerability across nearly every hazard category.
Highest-risk county in Colorado
El Paso ranks as Colorado's most hazard-exposed county, surpassing even Denver in composite risk at 94.05. The county encompasses Colorado Springs and sprawling suburbs, concentrating millions of people in high-hazard zones.
Riskier than Denver and Douglas combined
El Paso's score of 94.05 matches Denver (95.23) and exceeds Douglas (88.71), making it the most vulnerable county in the state. Only Elbert (36.58) and Fremont (68.58) nearby show substantially lower risk.
Wildfires, tornadoes, and floods threaten equally
El Paso residents face wildfire risk of 99.27 (nearly maximum), tornado risk of 96.82, and flood risk of 94.97. Earthquake risk of 75.10 adds a fourth major threat to this high-hazard county.
Maximum insurance protection is non-negotiable
El Paso County homeowners must secure separate flood and earthquake policies, plus comprehensive wildfire and wind coverage on their standard policy. Consider upgrading to high replacement-cost limits given the county's exposure and rapid growth.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in El Paso County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: El Paso County
Risk Verdict
El Paso County registers a moderately elevated natural disaster risk, ranking at the 94th percentile across all U.S. counties. High composite risk signals that multiple hazard types are elevated simultaneously; planning for more than one scenario is important in El Paso County.
Hazard Breakdown
Wildfire risk is El Paso County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 99th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 97th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (95th percentile), earthquake (75th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Wildfire ranks as El Paso County's primary hazard at the 99th percentile nationally. For El Paso County households in high-WUI areas, go-bag readiness — the ability to leave within 15 minutes — is more important than shelter-in-place planning for most residential properties. The county's tornado exposure at the 97th percentile nationally complements the wildfire risk — saturating rain after burn scarring often triggers secondary flood and debris flow events. El Paso County county's local emergency management office publishes community-specific wildfire risk assessments and evacuation zone maps; households should review their zone assignment and sign up for zone-specific alerts.
Regional Context
El Paso County falls 53.4 points above Colorado's typical county risk level, which means the hazard environment here is notably more demanding than the state baseline.
Is your household prepared for El Paso County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in El Paso County, CO?
What types of natural hazards affect El Paso County?
How does El Paso County risk compare to the Colorado average?
Is El Paso County at risk for wildfire?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is El Paso County higher risk than average?
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.