Jefferson County
Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Jefferson County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.9, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $231M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Very High | 6.86 / yr | $58M |
| Lightning | Very High | 57.73 / yr | $11M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $49M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 18.90 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.41 / yr | $559K |
| Tornado | High | 0.56 / yr | $22M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.29 / yr | $77M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.95 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3M |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.40 / yr | $131K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.38 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $325K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 0.18 / yr | $1M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $139 |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.56 / yr | $24K |
| 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.9 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 Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Very High, $58M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $11M EAL), Wildfire (High, $49M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Colorado counties?
Jefferson County ranks #2 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. Jefferson County's $231M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.