Las Animas County, Colorado Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CO
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 24th
Las Animas County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 23.6, 24th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Las Animas County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 23.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 24th 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.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $172K in expected annual loss and about 13.68 events per year; and avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Low risk — $46K in expected annual loss and about 0.03 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Las Animas County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Las Animas County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 4 for fire events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 64 Colorado counties, Las Animas County ranks #40 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 13.68 / yr | $172K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.03 / yr | $46K |
| Landslide | Low | 1.77 / yr | $5K |
| Lightning | Medium | 54.75 / yr | $381K |
| Drought | Low | 134.78 / yr | $115K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.21 / yr | $574K |
| Hail | Low | 1.95 / yr | $153K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.57 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $44K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $85K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.95 / yr | $104K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.45 / yr | $30K |
| 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
Las Animas County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Fire (4), Snowstorm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| January 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| January 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| January 2006 | Fire | Mauricio Canyon Fire |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 2003 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| June 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| June 2002 | Fire | Co - James John / Fisher - 06/03/02 |
| June 2002 | Fire | Co - Spring Fire - 06/03/02 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Las Animas County?
Las Animas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 23.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 24th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Las Animas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $172K EAL), Avalanche (Low, $46K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Las Animas County compare to other Colorado counties?
Las Animas County ranks #40 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Las Animas County had?
FEMA records 13 federal disaster declarations for Las Animas County since 1965, most often 4 for fire events and 3 for snowstorm 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. Las Animas County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.