Yuma County, CO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Yuma County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Yuma County's highest-rated hazards are hail, cold wave, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 398 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Yuma County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including biological (2), flood (1), coastal storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1965 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & 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 | 60.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 12.9 | 13 | 0 | $5K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 17 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 45.3 | 30 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 92.9 | 355 | 0 | $76K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 75.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 62.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 35.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 25.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 51.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 22.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Yuma County ranks in the 68th 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 | 68th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 82nd | High |
| Household characteristics | 60th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 65th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 34th | Low |
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 | 52nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 57.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 398 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 198 in 2016–20 vs 200 in 2021–25 (+1% — relatively stable).
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 Yuma County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Yuma County, Colorado are hail, cold wave, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Yuma County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Yuma County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Yuma County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Yuma County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Yuma County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kit Carson County, CO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Dundy County, NE has the lowest (Very Low). Yuma County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Yuma County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Yuma 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. Yuma County's composite score of 37 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 37% of US counties.