riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Gilpin County Disaster Risk

Gilpin County, Colorado

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

6th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#56

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

12th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Gilpin County

Risk Verdict

Gilpin County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 6th 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 Gilpin County, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 24th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (16th), flood (12th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Gilpin 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

Gilpin County is notably safer than the average county in Colorado. Its composite risk score is 34.3 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 Gilpin County, CO?
Gilpin County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 6th 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 Gilpin County?
Gilpin County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (88th percentile), earthquake (24th percentile), tornado (16th percentile), flooding (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 88th 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 Gilpin County risk compare to the Colorado average?
Gilpin County's composite risk percentile is 6th, compared to the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Gilpin County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Colorado.
Is Gilpin County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Gilpin County's wildfire risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Gilpin County is at the 12th 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 Gilpin County a safe place to live?
Gilpin County's composite risk score of 6th 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 88th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Sedgwick County

Colorado

+0.2

Very Low

7th percentile

Costilla County

Colorado

+0.2

Very Low

7th percentile

Lake County

Colorado

-0.7

Very Low

6th 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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