riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Garfield County Disaster Risk

Garfield County, Colorado

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

65th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#15

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

78th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 62% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Garfield County

Risk Verdict

Garfield County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 65th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Garfield County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 78th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (62th), tornado (9th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Garfield 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 flood 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

Garfield County is significantly riskier than the average county in Colorado. Its composite risk score is 23.9 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 Garfield County, CO?
Garfield County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 65th 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 Garfield County?
Garfield County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (91th percentile), flooding (78th percentile), earthquake (62th percentile), tornado (9th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 91th 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 Garfield County risk compare to the Colorado average?
Garfield County's composite risk percentile is 65th, compared to the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Garfield County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Colorado.
Is Garfield County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Garfield County's wildfire risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Garfield County is at the 78th 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 Garfield County higher risk than average?
Garfield County's composite risk score of 65th percentile is above the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (91th percentile), along with 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

Fremont County

Colorado

+4.0

Relatively Low

69th percentile

Summit County

Colorado

-4.3

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Logan County

Colorado

-5.8

Relatively Low

59th 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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