Montezuma County, Colorado Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CO
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Montezuma County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 47.6, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Montezuma County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 47.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 48th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Montezuma County's expected losses come from 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; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $74K in expected annual loss and about 1.01 events per year; and avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.40 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $12M in expected annual loss for a population of 26K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montezuma County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Montezuma County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including 2 for biological events and 2 for fire events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 64 Colorado counties, Montezuma County ranks #26 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.01 / yr | $74K |
| Avalanche | High | 0.40 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 57.91 / yr | $817K |
| Drought | Medium | 86.31 / yr | $495K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $415K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 18.26 / yr | $72K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.61 / yr | $7M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.04 / yr | $394K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $84K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $54K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $8K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $53K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $44K |
| 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
Montezuma County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1970, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Fire (2), Flood (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2012 | Fire | Weber Fire |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| January 1977 | Drought | Drought |
| July 1973 | Flood | Flooding & Landslides |
| September 1970 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Montezuma County?
Montezuma County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 47.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 48th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Montezuma County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $74K EAL), Avalanche (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montezuma County compare to other Colorado counties?
Montezuma County ranks #26 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montezuma County had?
FEMA records 8 federal disaster declarations for Montezuma County since 1970, most often 2 for biological events and 2 for fire 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. Montezuma County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.