riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

La Plata County Disaster Risk

La Plata County, Colorado

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

75th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#12

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

81th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 81% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 98% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Risk Advisory: La Plata County

Risk Verdict

La Plata County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 75th 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 La Plata County, scoring in the 98th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 81th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (71th), tornado (16th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, La Plata 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

La Plata County is significantly riskier than the average county in Colorado. Its composite risk score is 34.5 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 La Plata County, CO?
La Plata County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 75th 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 La Plata County?
La Plata County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (98th percentile), flooding (81th percentile), earthquake (71th percentile), tornado (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 98th 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 La Plata County risk compare to the Colorado average?
La Plata County's composite risk percentile is 75th, compared to the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means La Plata County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Colorado.
Is La Plata County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, La Plata County's wildfire risk is at the 98th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, La Plata County is at the 81th 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 La Plata County higher risk than average?
La Plata County's composite risk score of 75th percentile is above the Colorado state average of 41th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (98th 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

Mesa County

Colorado

-0.0

Relatively Low

75th percentile

Eagle County

Colorado

+1.1

Relatively Low

76th percentile

Fremont County

Colorado

-6.6

Relatively Low

69th 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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