Park County, Wyoming Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 58th
Park County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 57.7, 58th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Park County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 57.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 58th 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.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $333K in expected annual loss and about 7.03 events per year; avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.89 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $20M in expected annual loss for a population of 30K.
Beyond physical exposure, Park County has a low 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Park County has received 4 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including 2 for biological events and 2 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 23 Wyoming counties, Park County ranks #6 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 7.03 / yr | $333K |
| Avalanche | High | 0.13 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | High | 38.07 / yr | $934K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $555K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.05 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 23.27 / yr | $106K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $9M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8 |
| Drought | Low | 89.44 / yr | $57K |
| Hail | Low | 0.38 / yr | $156K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.27 / yr | $287K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $386K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $9K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $13K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Park County has received 4 federal disaster declarations since 1978, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Flood (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2017 | Flood | Flooding |
| May 1978 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Park County?
Park County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 57.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 58th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Park County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $333K EAL), Avalanche (High, $1M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Park County compare to other Wyoming counties?
Park County ranks #6 of 23 Wyoming counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Park County had?
FEMA records 4 federal disaster declarations for Park County since 1978, most often 2 for biological events and 2 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 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. Park County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.