Saguache County

Colorado — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

14.2

National percentile: 14th

Saguache County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 14.2, 14th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 6K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $163K/yr
Avalanche
Medium $848K/yr
Drought
Medium $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 0.91 / yr $163K
Avalanche Medium 0.17 / yr $848K
Drought Medium 87.19 / yr $1M
Lightning Medium 59.49 / yr $540K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $98K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $109K
Cold Wave Low 0.69 / yr $316K
Winter Weather Very Low 14.35 / yr $15K
Hail Very Low 0.56 / yr $59K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.25 / yr $2M
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Heat Wave Very Low 0.12 / yr $11K
Tornado Very Low 0.20 / yr $37K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $2K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.07 / yr $9K
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 Saguache County?

Saguache County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 14.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 14th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Saguache County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $163K EAL), Avalanche (Medium, $848K EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Saguache County compare to other Colorado counties?

Saguache County ranks #46 of 64 Colorado counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Saguache County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.