Moffat County, Colorado Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CO
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 12th
Moffat County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 12.1, 12th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Moffat County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 12.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 12th 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.
Most of Moffat County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $102K in expected annual loss and about 3.34 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $165K in expected annual loss and about 17.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Moffat County has a very low 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Moffat County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 2 for biological events and 1 for coastal storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 64 Colorado counties, Moffat County ranks #48 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 3.34 / yr | $102K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 17.01 / yr | $165K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $360K |
| Drought | Low | 97.82 / yr | $51K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.57 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | Low | 45.37 / yr | $141K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.30 / yr | $143K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $5K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $13K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $39K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $7K |
| Heat Wave | 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 |
Disaster History
Moffat County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Coastal Storm (1), Fire (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| July 1984 | Flood | Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & Flooding |
| January 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Moffat County?
Moffat County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 12.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 12th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Moffat County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $102K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $1M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $165K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Moffat County compare to other Colorado counties?
Moffat County ranks #48 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Moffat County had?
FEMA records 6 federal disaster declarations for Moffat County since 1977, most often 2 for biological events and 1 for coastal storm 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. Moffat County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.