Crowley County, Colorado Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CO
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 4th
Crowley County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 3.9, 4th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Crowley County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 3.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 4th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $82K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $321K in expected annual loss and about 4.82 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Low risk — $146K in expected annual loss and about 46.29 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $2M in expected annual loss for a population of 6K.
Beyond physical exposure, Crowley County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
The federal record bears this out: Crowley County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1965, 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, Crowley County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $82K |
| Hail | Low | 4.82 / yr | $321K |
| Lightning | Low | 46.29 / yr | $146K |
| Drought | Low | 104.35 / yr | $45K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.58 / yr | $34K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.63 / yr | $431K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.94 / yr | $284K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $27K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.45 / yr | $111K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $17K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $759K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $0 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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
Crowley County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Flood (2), Fire (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2008 | Fire | Ordway Fire |
| January 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| May 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| May 1999 | Severe Storm | Co-Flooding 4/30/99 |
| August 1997 | Flood | Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Crowley County?
Crowley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 3.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 4th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Crowley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Very Low, $82K EAL), Hail (Low, $321K EAL), Lightning (Low, $146K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Crowley County compare to other Colorado counties?
Crowley County ranks #60 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Crowley County had?
FEMA records 12 federal disaster declarations for Crowley County since 1965, 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. Crowley County's $2M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.