Alamosa County, Colorado Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CO
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 40th
Alamosa County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 40.4, 40th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Alamosa County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 40.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 40th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 72.96 events per year; avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Medium risk — $457K in expected annual loss and about 0.03 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Alamosa County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Alamosa County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including 2 for biological events and 2 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 64 Colorado counties, Alamosa County ranks #30 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 72.96 / yr | $1M |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 57.71 / yr | $263K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $62K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.07 / yr | $826K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.11 / yr | $40K |
| Hail | Low | 0.79 / yr | $148K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.07 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $363 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $9K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $109K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.34 / yr | $23K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $13K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Alamosa County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1970, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Flood (2), Coastal Storm (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 2003 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| June 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| July 1973 | Flood | Flooding & Landslides |
| September 1970 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Alamosa County?
Alamosa County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 40.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 40th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Alamosa County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $1M EAL), Avalanche (Medium, $457K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Alamosa County compare to other Colorado counties?
Alamosa County ranks #30 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Alamosa County had?
FEMA records 7 federal disaster declarations for Alamosa County since 1970, most often 2 for biological events and 2 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Alamosa County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.