Denver County
Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Denver County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.2, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $222M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Very High | 8.29 / yr | $72M |
| Lightning | Very High | 52.24 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | High | 0.16 / yr | $28M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.19 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.82 / yr | $94M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.26 / yr | $10M |
| Winter Weather | High | 13.74 / yr | $562K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $49K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $170 |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $105K |
| Drought | Very Low | 21.00 / yr | $7K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $8K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Denver County?
Denver County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Denver County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Very High, $72M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Tornado (High, $28M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Denver County compare to other Colorado counties?
Denver County ranks #1 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. Denver County's $222M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.