Carbon County, WY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Carbon County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 2011, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Carbon County's highest-rated hazards are avalanche, lightning, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Carbon County has been designated in 5 declarations since 2011, covering 3 disaster types including fire (2), biological (2), severe storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Fire | Mullen Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2020 | Fire | 316 Fire |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
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 | Relatively Low | 81.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 60.7 | 17 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 8.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 5.1 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 9.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 71.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 53.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 70.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 89.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | 92.1 | — | — | — |
| 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
Carbon County ranks in the 54th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 54th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 51st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 59th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 55th | Moderate |
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 | 67th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 74th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 46.9% | — |
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 Carbon County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Carbon County, Wyoming are avalanche, lightning, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Carbon County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Carbon County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 2011, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is fire (2 declarations).
Has Carbon County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Carbon County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Carbon County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Natrona County, WY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Jackson County, CO has the lowest (Very Low). Carbon County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Carbon County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Carbon 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. Carbon County's composite score of 43 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 43% of US counties.