Custer County
Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 4th
Custer County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 3.9, 4th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.27 / yr | $29K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $699K |
| Lightning | Medium | 60.96 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 68.64 / yr | $48K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.56 / yr | $191K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 18.47 / yr | $37K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $72 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $22K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $60K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $58K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.56 / yr | $11K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $3K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Custer County?
Custer 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 Custer County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $29K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $699K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Custer County compare to other Colorado counties?
Custer County ranks #61 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
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. Custer County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.