riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lake County Disaster Risk

Lake County, Colorado

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

6th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#57

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

9th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lake County

Risk Verdict

Lake 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

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Lake County, scoring in the 29th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 23th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (9th), tornado (8th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Lake County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as wildfire 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

Lake County is notably safer than the average county in Colorado. Its composite risk score is 35 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 Lake County, CO?
Lake 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 Lake County?
Lake County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (29th percentile), wildfire (23th percentile), flooding (9th percentile), tornado (8th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 29th 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 Lake County risk compare to the Colorado average?
Lake 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 Lake County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Colorado.
Is Lake County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Lake County's earthquake risk is at the 29th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Lake County is at the 9th 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 Lake County a safe place to live?
Lake 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 earthquake at the 29th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Bent County

Colorado

-0.0

Very Low

6th percentile

Mineral County

Colorado

-0.2

Very Low

5th percentile

Gilpin 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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