Douglas County
Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Douglas County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.7, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $114M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 58.57 / yr | $8M |
| Hail | High | 7.46 / yr | $13M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $26M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 18.04 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | High | 0.75 / yr | $14M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.03 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.36 / yr | $44M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.86 / yr | $20K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $85 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.95 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $779K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 0.24 / yr | $702K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.01 / yr | $90K |
| Drought | Low | 23.77 / yr | $57K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $11 |
| 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 Douglas County?
Douglas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.7 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Douglas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $8M EAL), Hail (High, $13M EAL), Wildfire (High, $26M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Douglas County compare to other Colorado counties?
Douglas County ranks #9 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Douglas County's $114M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.