Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Gunnison County, CO

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
08051
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Expired on 2026-01-27. Plan: Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664), approved 2021-01-28.

Since the plan was approved on 2021-01-28: no new federal declaration.

NOAA Storm Events records since that date: 299 records (data through 2026-06-30).

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($12,319,754 a year), Avalanche ($7,025,355) and Landslide ($590,344).

Repetitive-loss flood properties now: FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0.

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Expired on 2026-01-27
Plan:
Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)
Approved:
2021-01-28
Days since expiry:
246
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2021-01-28)

New federal declarations:
none
Storm Events records since approval:
299 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiry
Gunnison CountyCountyExpired on 2026-01-27Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)2021-01-282026-01-27-246
Crested Butte townTownExpired on 2026-01-27Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)2021-01-282026-01-27-246
Gunnison cityCityExpired on 2026-01-27Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)2021-01-282026-01-27-246
Mount Crested Butte townTownExpired on 2026-01-27Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)2021-01-282026-01-27-246
Gunnison Fire Protection DistrictFire/EMS DistrictExpired on 2026-01-27Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)2021-01-282026-01-27-246
Other (Crested Butte Fire Protection District)Fire/EMS DistrictExpired on 2026-01-27Gunnison County, CO Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 106664)2021-01-282026-01-27-246

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countWhy this hazard can be left outNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$11,776,984$91,659$451,112$12,319,75420
2AvalancheVery HighVery High$2,233n/a$7,023,122$7,025,35588
3LandslideRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$3,201n/a$587,143$590,34432
4LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$3,600n/a$538,214$541,8146
5WildfireRelatively LowRelatively Low$258,759$45$3,594$262,39729
6EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$216,353n/a$29,580$245,933Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
7Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$15,203$48$48,186$63,4371,137
8Cold WaveVery LowVery Low$2,015$55,448$4,282$61,746115Includes 105 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
9DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$60,639n/a$60,639147
10TornadoVery LowVery Low$20,759$55$20,524$41,3391
11Strong WindVery LowVery Low$8,242$5$32,482$40,72975Includes 61 High Wind and 11 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
12HailVery LowVery Low$12,725$328$1,291$14,3431
13Ice StormVery LowVery Low$5,980n/a$1,153$7,1330No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14Heat WaveVery LowVery Lowunder $1$3$8$111
15Volcanic ActivityVery LowVery Lowunder $1n/a$1$10No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
HurricaneNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates hurricane Not Applicable for this county, and no counted federal declaration for this county names it (EM-3224-CO names it but is not counted as a local occurrence; see B1-d).No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local volcanic activity records (Storm Events records this hazard only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: coastal flooding and tsunami. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Avalanchetract 9639 (Very High, 97.4); tract 9638 (Relatively High, 96.8); tract 9636.02 (Relatively High, 95.7)
Earthquaketract 9637.01 (Relatively Low, 64.8); tract 9638 (Relatively Low, 59.8); tract 9639 (Relatively Low, 54.1)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 9639 (Relatively High, 99.8); tract 9638 (Relatively High, 99.7); tract 9636.02 (Relatively High, 99.6)
Tornadotract 9638 (Very Low, 23.1); tract 9637.01 (Very Low, 18.4); tract 9636.02 (Very Low, 17.2)
Volcanic Activitytract 9638 (Very Low, 67.0); tract 9639 (Very Low, 41.6); tract 9636.02 (Very Low, 41.1)
Wildfiretract 9639 (Relatively High, 96.6); tract 9636.02 (Relatively Moderate, 90.0); tract 9638 (Relatively Low, 86.0)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9639 is Census Tract 9639). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Avalanchenone (count and damage only)88 records, 1998 to 2026 (88 zone-level)Avalanche, 2005-01-06, $200,000 property; crops not reported (2005 dollars); NWS zone COZ018Countywide (zone-level records).Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill10 records, 2005 to 2025 (10 zone-level)2 days to 16 days (median 8 days); 3 with a recorded value16 consecutive days, 2005-12-04 to 2005-12-19, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Wind chill: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage105 records, 1996 to 2025 (105 zone-level)Frost/Freeze, 1997-04-12, $9,000,000 crop damage (1997 dollars); NWS zone COZ011Countywide (zone-level records).Temperature: in event narratives only (local data needed).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)147 records, 2002 to 2026 (147 zone-level)30 days to 1,096 days (median 213 days); 12 with a recorded value1096 days (36 months), 2003-10-01 to 2006-09-30, a run of 36 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)2 records, 1982 to 20000.75 in to 0.88 in (median 0.81 in); 2 with a recorded value0.88 in hail, 2000-07-15No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)1 record, 2021 (1 zone-level)3 days; 1 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2021-07-07 to 2021-07-09, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat index: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)0Ice thickness: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)20 records, 1997 to 2023 (1 zone-level)Flood, 2023-04-30, $500,000 property; $0 crops (2023 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Gunnison city (2 records). Zone-level records (1) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)32 records, 2003 to 2024 (19 zone-level)Debris Flow, 2007-04-19, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars); NWS zone COZ012No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan. Zone-level records (19) apply countywide.Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)6 records, 1996 to 2020Lightning, 1996-07-28, $35,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Mount Crested Butte town (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only (local data needed).
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)72 records, 1996 to 2026 (72 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 106 kt (122 mph) (median 57 kt (66 mph)); 70 with a recorded value106 kt (122 mph), measurement type not recorded, High Wind, 1999-01-25; NWS zone COZ018High Wind, 2002-05-21, $100,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2002 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)11 records, 1983 to 200650 kt (58 mph) to 65 kt (75 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 9 with a recorded value65 kt (75 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1983-07-06Thunderstorm Wind, 1994-06-12, $50 property; crops not recorded (1994 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Crested Butte town (1 record).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)1 record, 2021EFU (rating unknown) tornado, 2021-05-29, 0.65 mi within this county, 20 yd wide, damage not reportedNo event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Volcanic Ash, Volcanic AshfallVolcanic Explosivity Index (local data)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)29 records, 2002 to 2025 (24 zone-level)Wildfire, 2025-09-01, $0 property; $15,300,000 crops (2025 dollars); NWS zone COZ014Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Gunnison city (3 records). Zone-level records (24) apply countywide.Acres burned: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)1,137 records, 1996 to 2026 (1,137 zone-level)Winter Weather, 2020-09-09, $15,000 property; $0 crops (2020 dollars); NWS zone COZ014Countywide (zone-level records).Snow depth: in event narratives only (local data needed).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records whose zone no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 9 declarations covering 5 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2020-03-282020-01-20DR-4498-COMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$9,517.86in the 12 months before plan approval
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3436-COEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedin the 12 months before plan approvalsame incident as DR-4498
2005-09-052005-08-29EM-3224-COEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2003-04-092003-03-17EM-3185-COEmergencySnowWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
2002-06-232002-06-23FM-2431-COFire managementCo-Wiley Ridge Fire-06/23/02Wildfireno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1421
2002-06-192002-04-23DR-1421-COMajor disasterWildfiresWildfirePA not declared for this county
1984-07-271984-07-27DR-719-COMajor disasterSevere Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
1977-01-291977-01-29EM-3025-COEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1973-07-061973-07-06DR-396-COMajor disasterFlooding & LandslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslideno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1956-06-121956-06-12DR-59-COMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding
1955-05-251955-05-25DR-33-COMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

10 Fire Management declarations (1978-09-12 to 2016-07-10) FEMA filed as Statewide with no county; each names one local fire. Listed on the state page.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Avalanche8812211001996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave115231018001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 105 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought14725917101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail2000001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave1100001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Inland Flooding20606201996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide321108201996 to 2026-06-30
Lightning6010001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind8334334001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 61 High Wind and 11 Strong Wind records.
Tornado1100001950 to 2026-06-30
Volcanic Activity0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire2910110101996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather1,13717622167101996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2025-09-01Wildfire$0 property; $15,300,000 crops, reported for the zone (2025 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ014 (UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Wildfire
2023-04-30Flood$500,000 property; $0 crops (2023 dollars)0, 0SOMERSET to OLIVERnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2021-02-01Avalanche$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)3, 4NWS zone COZ018 (NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS), zone-levelnew since last plandeaths or injuries recorded
2020-09-09Winter Weather$15,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2020 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ014 (UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY), zone-levelin the 12 months before plan approvalB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2019-02-16Avalanche$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2019 dollars)2, 0NWS zone COZ012 (WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2007-04-19Debris Flow$50,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2007 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ012 (WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Debris Flow
2005-12-04Cold/Wind Chill$100,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2005 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ011 (CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2005-01-06Avalanche$200,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2005 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ018 (NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Avalanche
2003-10-01Droughtdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone COZ018 (NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought
1999-02-06Avalanchedamage not reported3, 1Storm Events area WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS/TAYLOR PARK / W LAKE / W CHAFFEE / WC TO EC GUNNISON (legacy zone code COZ012), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
1997-04-12Frost/Freezeproperty not reported; $9,000,000 crops, reported for the zone (1997 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ011 (CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN/MONTROSE AND VICINITY), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Frost/Freeze
1996-07-28Lightning$35,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars)0, 0MONTROSEB1-c worst recorded: Lightning

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (1,661 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Avalanche1.27events per yearabout 1.27 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)381994 to 2023 (30 years)see B1-f
Cold Wave0.0472event-days per yearabout 0.0472 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 3 of 30 years)event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)0.8982005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought63.4event-days per yearabout 63.4 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 17 of 30 years)event-days in 17 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (56.7%)1,9532000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00121annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.121%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail0.117events per yearabout 1 in 9 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)4.5 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave0.000249event-days per yearabout 0.000249 days per yearPossible (from Storm Events: 1 of 30 years)event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)0.00472005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricaneevents per year1851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Ice Storm0.0149event-days per yearabout 0.0149 days per yearevent-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)01946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNo Storm Events ice storm record, 1996 to 2025
Inland Flooding0.571event-days per yearabout 0.571 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 10 of 30 years)event-days in 10 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (33.3%)161996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide2.1events per year (modeled)about 2.1 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning54.7days per year with a strikeabout 54.7 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.115events per yearabout 1 in 9 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)51986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.071events per yearabout 1 in 14 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Volcanic Activity0.0001annual probabilityabout 1 in 10,000 yearsUnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Wildfire0.000713annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0713%Likely (from Storm Events: 12 of 30 years)Storm Events records in 12 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (40%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from Storm Events, not NRI.
Winter Weather40.7event-days per yearabout 40.7 days per yearHighly likely (from Storm Events: 30 of 30 years)event-days in 30 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (100%)7702005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20250300
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20250300
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20251300.0333

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Avalanche4 of 695.596.297.4Very High 1, Relatively High 3, Not Applicable 2
Cold Wave6 of 617.123.730.5Relatively Low 4, Very Low 2
Drought3 of 681.883.294.3Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 2, No Rating 3
Earthquake6 of 638.852.764.8Relatively Low 5, Very Low 1
Hail6 of 621.830.241.4Relatively Low 1, Very Low 5
Heat Wave1 of 61.61.61.6Very Low 1, No Rating 5
Hurricane0 of 6Not Applicable 6
Ice Storm6 of 66.912.429.8Very Low 6
Inland Flooding6 of 617.391.798.4Very High 2, Relatively High 3, Relatively Low 1
Landslide6 of 644.599.199.8Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 1, Very Low 2
Lightning6 of 684.194.499.4Very High 2, Relatively High 4
Strong Wind6 of 617.119.750.4Relatively Low 3, Very Low 3
Tornado6 of 68.113.623.1Very Low 6
Volcanic Activity4 of 640.741.467.0Very Low 4, No Rating 2
Wildfire6 of 658.984.996.6Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 2, Very Low 2
Winter Weather6 of 655.068.096.9Very High 1, Relatively Moderate 5

Cold Wave: Agriculture is 90% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Gunnison CountyCountyExpired on 2026-01-27FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Crested Butte townTownExpired on 2026-01-27FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its plan
Gunnison cityCityExpired on 2026-01-27FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded5 total; 0 since its plan
Mount Crested Butte townTownExpired on 2026-01-27FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2021-01-28county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Avalanche$12,078,569n/a10$2,233n/a$7,023,1220.0185%$0
Cold Wave$6,482,606,629$31,038,05816,763$2,015$55,448$4,282under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$4,163,450n/an/a$60,639n/a1.46% (agriculture)$0NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$11,102,275,970n/a16,918$216,353n/a$29,5800.00195%
Hail$6,635,421,730$31,056,01216,897$12,725$328$1,2910.000192%
Heat Wave$25,027,240$1,131,2449under $1$3$8under 0.0001%$0
HurricaneNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Ice Storm$6,635,421,730n/a16,897$5,980n/a$1,153under 0.0001%
Inland Flooding$6,604,439,456$9,540,556992$11,776,984$91,659$451,112n/a (see note)$551,000NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$516,877,231n/a838$3,201n/a$587,1430.000619%$45,750
Lightning$6,635,421,730n/a16,897$3,600n/a$538,214under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$6,635,421,730$31,056,01216,897$8,242$5$32,4820.000124%$37,500Storm Events damage since the plan includes 2 zone-level High Wind records ($37,500): a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition.
Tornado$6,635,421,730$31,056,01216,897$20,759$55$20,5240.000313%
Volcanic Activity$6,635,421,730n/a16,897under $1n/a$1under 0.0001%
Wildfire$1,181,809,279$13,399,7023,754$258,759$45$3,5940.0219%$57,965,000
Winter Weather$6,635,421,730$31,056,01216,897$15,203$48$48,1860.000229%$0

Totals since 2021-01-28 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 18 county-coded records, 17 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $596,750; 281 zone-level records, 281 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $58,002,500 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: no counted declaration since the plan.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population16,897
Building value (total, not at risk)$6,635,421,730
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$31,056,012
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$12,534,285
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$8,740,692
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0000000
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0080800

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Gunnison County0800780000000
Crested Butte town0800790000000
Gunnison city0800800000000
Mount Crested Butte town0803060000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group: 0 in every occupancy group.

Sources: 1, 4

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 0 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment, organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B. Each section heading names the item its tables support; the plan and FEMA's review decide whether the item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Gunnison County, CO: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 08051). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/co/08051/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-30; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. Automated baseline.