Alamosa County, CO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Alamosa County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Alamosa County's highest-rated hazards are drought, avalanche, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Alamosa County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1970, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), coastal storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1973 | Flood | Flooding & Landslides |
| 1970 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 62.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 43.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 82.5 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 15.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 16.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 47.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 49.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 18.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 58.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 91.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 38.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | 83.3 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Alamosa County ranks in the 83rd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 57th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 77th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 89th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 94th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 30th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 34th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 48.2% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Alamosa County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Alamosa County, Colorado are drought, avalanche, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Alamosa County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Alamosa County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Alamosa County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Alamosa County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Alamosa County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rio Grande County, CO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Custer County, CO has the lowest (Very Low). Alamosa County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Alamosa County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Alamosa County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Alamosa County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.