riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

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 Advisory: El Paso County

Risk Verdict

El Paso County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 94th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for El Paso County, scoring in the 99th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 97th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (95th), earthquake (75th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, El Paso 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 tornado 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

El Paso County is significantly riskier than the average county in Colorado. Its composite risk score is 53.4 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in El Paso County, CO?
El Paso County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 94th 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 El Paso County?
El Paso County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (99th percentile), tornado (97th percentile), flooding (95th percentile), earthquake (75th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 99th 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 El Paso County risk compare to the Colorado average?
El Paso County's composite risk percentile is 94th, compared to the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means El Paso County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Colorado.
Is El Paso County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, El Paso County's wildfire risk is at the 99th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, El Paso County is at the 95th 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.
Why is El Paso County higher risk than average?
El Paso County's composite risk score of 94th percentile is above the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (99th percentile), along with tornado and flooding and earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Arapahoe County

Colorado

-0.3

Relatively Moderate

94th percentile

Jefferson County

Colorado

+0.9

Relatively High

95th percentile

Denver County

Colorado

+1.2

Relatively High

95th 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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