Pueblo County, Colorado Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CO
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 83th
Pueblo County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.5, 83th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $48M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pueblo County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 82.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 83rd national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 50.71 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 12.22 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 4.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $48M in expected annual loss for a population of 168K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pueblo County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Pueblo County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 6 for fire events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Aspen Acres Fire (fire), declared in June 2026.
Among 64 Colorado counties, Pueblo County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 50.71 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 12.22 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | High | 4.00 / yr | $7M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.49 / yr | $8M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.64 / yr | $21M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.73 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $657K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.55 / yr | $858K |
| Drought | Low | 78.88 / yr | $261K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $488K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $1K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.01 / yr | $37K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $9 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Pueblo County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Aspen Acres Fire in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Fire (6), Flood (4), Snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Fire | Aspen Acres Fire |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2016 | Fire | Junkins Fire |
| October 2016 | Fire | Beulah Hill Fire |
| July 2015 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| September 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| October 2012 | Fire | Wetmore Fire |
| January 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| January 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pueblo County?
Pueblo County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 83th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pueblo County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Hail (High, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pueblo County compare to other Colorado counties?
Pueblo County ranks #10 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pueblo County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Pueblo County since 1965, most often 6 for fire events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Aspen Acres Fire, declared in June 2026.
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. Pueblo County's $48M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.