HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12 A Resolution Adopting a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation PlanRESOLUTION NO. 12
Series of 2025
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION
PLAN
WHEREAS, the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 was signed into law on
October 30, 2000, placing new emphasis on state and local mitigation planning for natural
hazards and requiring jurisdictions to adopt a hazard mitigation action plan to be eligible for
pre-disaster and post-disaster federal funding for mitigation purposes;
WHEREAS, a Multi- Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was prepared by Eagle
County, CO, with assistance from JEO Consulting Group, Inc., in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference (the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Plan was to lessen the effects of disasters by
increasing the disaster resistance of the County and participating jurisdictions located
within the planning area by identifying the hazards that affect Eagle County, and by
prioritizing mitigation actions and strategies to reduce potential loss of life and property
damage from those hazards; and
WHEREAS, FEMA regulations require documentation that the Plan has been
formally adopted by the governing body of Eagle County in the form of a resolution and
further requesting approval of the Plan at the Federal Level.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF VAIL, COLORADO THAT:
Section 1. The Town Council hereby adopts the Plan in substantially the same
form as attached hereto as Exhibit A, and in a form approved by the Town Attorney, and
authorizes the Town Manager to execute the Plan on behalf of the Town.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
INTRODUCED, PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town
Council of the Town of Vail held this 18th day of March 2025.
_________________________
Travis Coggin, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Stephanie Johnson, Acting Town Clerk
Eagle County
Hazard Mitigation
Plan 202
Prepared by:
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 1
Eagle County Planning Team
Name Title Jurisdiction
Birch Barron Director of Emergency Management Eagle County
Fernando Almanza Deputy Emergency Manager Eagle County
*Phil Luebbert Project Coordinator JEO Consulting Group Inc.
*Karl Dietrich Planner JEO Consulting Group Inc.
*Mark Thompson State Hazard Mitigation Officer Colorado Division of
Homeland Security and
Emergency Management
*Matthew West Mitigation Planning Supervisor Colorado Division of
Homeland Security and
Emergency Management
*Served in an advisory or consultant role.
2 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
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Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 3
Table of Contents
Eagle County Planning Team...................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................ 3
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. 5
List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. 5
Section One: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7
Hazard Mitigation Planning ...................................................................................................... 7
Hazard Mitigation Assistance .................................................................................................. 7
Summary of Changes .............................................................................................................. 9
Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................................. 9
Participating Jurisdictions ...................................................................................................... 10
Section Two: How to Use This Hazard Mitigation Plan .............................................................. 11
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 11
How to Use This Document ................................................................................................... 11
Section Three: Planning Area Overview .................................................................................... 13
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 13
Location and Geography ....................................................................................................... 13
Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 13
Housing ................................................................................................................................. 16
Employment and Economics ................................................................................................. 18
Section Four: Planning Process Summary ................................................................................ 19
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 19
Plan Update Process ............................................................................................................. 19
Stakeholder and Public Involvement ...................................................................................... 21
Section Five: Risk Assessment Summary ................................................................................. 23
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 23
Hazard Identification .............................................................................................................. 23
Hazard Assessment Summary Tables ................................................................................... 25
FEMA National Risk Index ..................................................................................................... 29
Historical Disaster Declarations ............................................................................................. 29
Hazard Profiles ...................................................................................................................... 31
Section Six: Mitigation Strategy ................................................................................................. 35
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 35
Summary of Changes ............................................................................................................ 35
Selected Mitigation and Strategic Actions .............................................................................. 35
Participant Mitigation Actions ................................................................................................. 36
Section Seven: Plan Implementation and Maintenance ............................................................ 37
Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan ...................................................................... 37
Continued Public Involvement ............................................................................................... 38
Unforeseen Opportunities ...................................................................................................... 38
Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms .................................................................. 38
Section Eight: Participant Profiles ............................................................................................. 41
Purpose of Participant Profiles .............................................................................................. 41
Participant Profile Appendices
Eagle County and Community Appendix
Eagle County
Town of Avon
Town of Basalt*
Table of Contents
4 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Town of Eagle
Town of Gypsum
Town of Minturn
Town of Red Cliff
Town of Vail
Special Distristricts Appendix
Basalt Library District
Basalt Sanitation District
Berry Creek Metro District
Cordillera Metro District
Eagle County Paramedic Services
Eagle County School District
Eagle River Fire Protection District
Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
Eagle Vail Metropolitan District
Eagle Valley Library District
Eagle Valley Transportation Authority
Greater Eagle Fire Protection District
Gypsum Fire Protection District
Mountain Recreation Metropolitan District
Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority
Vail Recreation District
Appendix A: Full Risk Assessment
Appendix B: Planning Process Documentation
Appendix C: Planning Area Profile
Appendix D: Mitigation Strategy
Appendix E: Hazard Mitigation Project Funding Guidebook
Appendix F: Guide to Review and Update the Hazard Mitigation Plan
Appendix G: Eagle County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
*Participated in the Pitkin County Hazard Mitigation Plan1
1 https://pitkincounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/31286/Pitkin-
County-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-2023.
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 5
List of Figures
Figure 1: County Population, 1890-2020 .................................................................................................... 13
Figure 2: Eagle County Planning Area ........................................................................................................ 14
Figure 3: Population by Age Cohort and Sex (2020) .................................................................................. 15
Figure 4: Housing Age in Eagle County ...................................................................................................... 17
Figure 5: Project Timeline ........................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 6: First Responders at an Emergency Incident ............................................................................... 39
List of Tables
Table 1: 2019 Plan Comments and Revisions ............................................................................ 9
Table 2: Participating Jurisdictions ............................................................................................10
Table 3: School Inventory .........................................................................................................15
Table 4: County Inventory of Care Facilities ..............................................................................16
Table 5: County & State ESL and Poverty At-Risk Populations .................................................16
Table 6: County Racial Composition Trends .............................................................................16
Table 7: County Housing Characteristics ..................................................................................16
Table 8: Vulnerable County & State Housing Characteristics ....................................................17
Table 9: Vulnerable Employment & Economic Characteristics ..................................................18
Table 10: Hazards Addressed in the Plan .................................................................................23
Table 11: Loss Estimation for Eagle County ..............................................................................26
Table 12: County Risk Assessment ...........................................................................................27
Table 13: National Risk Index ...................................................................................................29
Table 14: Presidential Disaster Declarations .............................................................................29
Table 15: USDA Secretarial Disasters (2012-2023) ..................................................................30
Table 16: State Emergency Declarations ..................................................................................30
Table 17: Prioritized Hazards of Concern by Jurisdiction ..........................................................31
6 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
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Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 7
Section One: Introduction
Hazard Mitigation Planning
Hazard mitigation planning is a process in which hazards are identified and profiled; people and
facilities at-risk are identified and assessed for threats and potential vulnerabilities; and strategies
and mitigation measures are identified. Hazard mitigation planning increases the ability of
communities and other governmental entities to effectively function in the face of natural disasters.
The goal of the process is to reduce risk and vulnerability, in order to lessen impacts on life, the
economy, and infrastructure.
Severe weather and hazardous events are occurring more frequently in our daily lives. Pursuing
mitigation strategies reduces risk and is socially and economically responsible to prevent long-
term risks from natural and human-caused hazard events.
Hazards, such as severe winter weather, avalanche, severe wind, intentional attacks, landslides,
floods, lightning, and wildfires are part of the world around us. These hazard events can occur as
a part of normal operation or because of human error. All jurisdictions participating in this planning
process are vulnerable to a wide range of hazards that threaten the safety of residents and have
the potential to damage or destroy both public and private property, cause environmental
degradation, or disrupt the local economy and overall quality of life.
This plan is an update to the Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan approved in 2019. The plan
update was developed in compliance with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
(DMA 2000). By preparing this plan, Eagle County has demonstrated a commitment to reducing
risks from hazards and to helping decision makers establish mitigation activities and resources.
Hazard Mitigation Assistance
On June 1, 2009, FEMA initiated the Hazard Mitigation Assistance program integration, which
aligned certain policies and timelines of the various mitigation programs. These Hazard Mitigation
Assistance programs present a critical opportunity to minimize the risk to individuals and property
from hazards while simultaneously reducing the reliance on federal disaster funds.
FEMA definition of
Hazard Mitigation
-term risk to human life and property from
Section One | Introduction
8 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Each Hazard Mitigation Assistance program was authorized by separate legislative actions, and
as such, each program differs slightly in scope and intent.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: To qualify for post-disaster mitigation funds, local
jurisdictions must adopt a mitigation plan that is approved by FEMA. Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, local
governments, and eligible private non-profits following a presidential disaster declaration.
The DMA 2000 authorizes up to seven percent of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds
available to a state after a disaster to be used for the development or update of state,
tribal, and local mitigation plans.
Flood Mitigation Assistance: This program provides grant funds to implement projects
such as acquisition or elevation of flood-prone homes. Jurisdictions must be participating
communities in the National Flood Insurance Program to qualify for this grant. The goal of
Flood Mitigation Assistance is to reduce or eliminate claims under the National Flood
Insurance Program.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities: This program replaced the Pre-
Disaster Mitigation Program beginning in 2020 and provides funds on an annual allocation
basis to local jurisdictions for implementing programs and projects to improve resiliency
and local capacity before disaster events.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation: The Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program makes federal funds
available to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to implement measures
designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from future natural hazards. The
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorizes funding for 100 projects with total
funds of $233,043,782 in 2023.
Fire Mitigation Assistance Grants: Section 404 of the Stafford Act allows FEMA to
provide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grants to any area that received a Fire
Management Assistance Grant declaration even if no major Presidential declaration was
made. Fire Mitigation Assistance Grants aids communities in implementing long-term
mitigation measures after a wildfire event.
For more information about these grant programs and other funding opportunities to help
implement identified mitigation actions see Appendix E: Hazard Mitigation Project Funding
Guidebook.
Mitigation is the cornerstone of emergency management. Mitigation focuses on breaking the cycle of
disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. Mitigation lessens the impact disasters have
on people's lives and property through damage prevention, appropriate development standards, and
affordable flood insurance. Through measures such as avoiding building in damage-prone areas,
stringent building codes, and floodplain management regulations, the impact on lives and communities
is lessened.
- FEMA Mitigation Directorate
Section One | Introduction
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 9
Summary of Changes
The hazard mitigation planning process goes through changes during each plan update to best
accommodate the planning area and specific conditions. Changes from the 2019 Hazard
Mitigation Plan and planning process in this update included: an updated plan layout, greater
efforts to reach and include stakeholder groups, greater effort to include all taxing authorities as
participants; a more in-depth funding guidebook; and changes to meet updated FEMA hazard
mitigation plan policies. The plan was also updated to reflect changing priorities for each
participating jurisdiction. Prioritized hazards of concern were identified by each local planning
team along with a review of mitigation actions. Each local planning team reviewed the mitigation
actions from 2019 and updated the timeline, priority (high, medium, low), and status. Local
planning teams were also able to add new mitigation actions to better fit any changing priorities
and concerns. The 2019 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan Review Tool was reviewed for
possible changes to incorporate into this plan update and were addressed where applicable.
These changes are described in the table below.
Table 1: 2019 Plan Comments and Revisions
Comment/Revision from 2019 Review Tool Location of
Revision Summary of Changes
Consider utilizing GIS data of hazards, people,
and structures during the annual review
process to simplify the exposure and
vulnerability update in the next plan.
Participant
Profile,
Appendix A:
Full Risk
Assessment
GIS data and maps were added and
included throughout the plan when
data was available.
Goals and Objectives
The potential for disaster losses and the probability of occurrence of natural and human-caused
hazards present a significant concern for the jurisdictions participating in this plan. The driving
motivation behind this hazard mitigation plan is to reduce vulnerability and the likelihood of
impacts to the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens in the planning area. To this end, the Eagle
County Planning Team reviewed and approved goals which helped guide the process of
identifying both broad-based and jurisdictional-specific mitigation strategies and projects that will,
if implemented, reduce their vulnerability, and help build stronger, more resilient communities.
Goals from the 2019 hazard mitigation plan were reviewed, and the Eagle County Planning Team
agreed that they are still relevant and applicable for this plan update. The updated goals and
objectives for this plan update are as follows.
Goal 1: Protect Life, Property, and the Environment by Reducing the Impact of Natural and
Human-Caused Hazards in Eagle County
Objectives
A. Enhance assessment of multi-hazard risk to life, property, and the environment to identify
areas within Eagle County that are at
hazards.
B. Develop and implement action plans to reduce potential loss of life, property, critical
infrastructure, and valued resources while protecting the safety of the public and
emergency responders.
C. Provide framework for implementation and management of mitigation actions identified by
this plan.
D. Increase public education and awareness of hazards and risk reduction measures.
Section One | Introduction
10 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Goal 2: Minimize Economic Losses and Speed Recovery and Redevelopment Following
Future Disaster Events
Objectives
A. Strengthen disaster resiliency of governments, businesses, and community members.
B. Promote and conduct continuity of operations and continuity of governance planning.
C.
districts.
Goal 3: Implement the Mitigation Actions Identified in this Plan
Objectives
A. Engage collaborative partners, community organizations, businesses, and others.
B. Commit to hazard mitigation principles and integrate mitigation activities into existing and
new community plans and policies.
C. Comply with federal and state legislation and guidance for local hazard mitigation
planning.
D. Proactively prepare to minimize secondary hazards associated with expected events.
E. Monitor, evaluate, and update the mitigation plan on an annual basis and modify plans,
as necessary.
Participating Jurisdictions
Jurisdictions that participated in the Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan are listed in the table
below. These jurisdictions met all the requirements for participation by attending required
meetings, assisting in data collection, identifying mitigation actions, reviewing plan drafts, and
either adopting the plan by resolution or planning to adopt the plan by resolution.
Table 2: Participating Jurisdictions
Participating Jurisdictions
Eagle County Eagle County Paramedic Services
Town of Avon Eagle County School District
Town of Basalt* Eagle River Fire Protection District
Town of Eagle Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
Town of Gypsum Eagle Vail Metropolitan District
Town of Minturn Eagle Valley Library District
Town of Red Cliff Eagle Valley Transportation Authority
Town of Vail Greater Eagle Fire Protection District
Basalt Library District Gypsum Fire Protection District
Basalt Sanitation District Mountain Recreation Metropolitan District
Berry Creek Metro District Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority
Cordillera Metro District Vail Recreation District
*Participates in the Pitkin County Hazard Mitigation Plan2
2 https://pitkincounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/31286/Pitkin-
County-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-2023.
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 11
Section Two: How to Use This
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Introduction
This hazard mitigation plan was developed for anyone that lives, works, owns a business, owns
land, or visits Eagle County. Different sections of the plan will be helpful to different people. This
section is designed to help guide readers to the most relevant information.
How to Use This Document
Jurisdiction that Participated in the Plan
I am a governing official from a participating jurisdiction and want to learn more about the hazards
that could impact my jurisdiction, identify strategies to reduce vulnerability to those hazards, how
to secure funding for those strategies, and how to keep the plan up to date. I would review:
Section Three Planning Area Overview and Appendix C Planning Area Profile: To
learn about demographics, at-risk populations, housing, employment, economics, social
vulnerability, rural capacity index, state and federal areas, and historical sites.
Section Five Risk Assessment Summary and Appendix A Full Risk Assessment: To
learn about the hazards that could impact Eagle County, where those hazards are likely
to occur, how often they are likely to occur, the possible extent of the hazards, how climate
change will impact the hazards, and countywide vulnerabilities.
Section Six Plan Implementation and Maintenance and Appendix F Guide to Review
and Update the Hazard Mitigation Plan: To learn about plan maintenance and how to
update your participant section.
Section Eight Plan Participant Profiles: To learn jurisdictional specific information about
Eagle County, local communities, and other local jurisdictions. Each participant section
contains information about prioritized hazards, infrastructure critical to community lifelines,
and mitigation strategies.
Appendix E Hazard Mitigation Funding Guidebook : To learn about various federal,
state, and other funding sources to help pay for identified mitigation strategies.
Resident, Landowner, Visitor, or Business
I am a resident, landowner, visitor, or business and want to learn about Eagle County/my
community, protecting my family, home, and property from natural and human-caused hazards. I
would review:
Section Three Planning Area Overview and Appendix C Planning Area Profile: To
learn about demographics, at-risk populations, housing, employment, economics, social
vulnerability, rural capacity index, state and federal areas, and historical sites.
Section Two | How to Use This Hazard Mitigation Plan
12 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Section Five Risk Assessment Summary and Appendix A Full Risk Assessment: To
learn about the hazards that could impact Eagle County, where those hazards are likely
to occur, how often they are likely to occur, the possible extent of the hazards, how climate
change will impact the hazards, and countywide vulnerabilities.
Section Seven Plan Implementation and Maintenance: To learn jurisdictional specific
information about Eagle County, local communities, and other local jurisdictions. Each
participant section contains information about prioritized hazards, infrastructure critical to
community lifelines, and mitigation strategies.
State or Federal Agency
I am with a state or federal agency and want to learn more about the planning process, hazard
risks, and mitigation strategies across all jurisdictions in Eagle County. I would review:
Section One Introduction: To learn about the goals and objectives of the Eagle County
Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Section Three Planning Area Overview and Appendix C Planning Area Profile: To
learn about demographics, at-risk populations, housing, employment, economics, social
vulnerability, rural capacity index, state and federal areas, and historical sites.
Section Four Planning Process Summary and Appendix B Planning Process
Documentation: To learn about the planning process, who attended meetings, and who
was invited to participate.
Section Five Risk Assessment Summary and Appendix A Full Risk Assessment: To
learn about the hazards that could impact Eagle County, where those hazards are likely
to occur, how often they are likely to occur, the possible extent of the hazards, how climate
change will impact the hazards, and countywide vulnerabilities.
Appendix D Mitigation Strategy: To learn about the mitigation strategies identified by
each participating jurisdiction.
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 13
Section Three: Planning Area
Overview
Introduction
To identify jurisdictional vulnerabilities, it is vitally important to understand the people and built
environment of the planning area. The following section provides a summary of Eagle County
characteristics. A more detailed profile broken down by community is covered in Appendix C:
Planning Area Profile, including demographics, at-risk populations, employment, economics, and
housing.
Location and Geography
Eagle County is located in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Colorado. The county covers
1,692 square miles and elevation ranges from 6,128 feet to 14,011 feet above sea level. The
White River National Forest covers a large portion of the eastern and southern portions of the
county. There are seven incorporated communities in Eagle County: Town of Avon, Town of
Basalt, Town of Eagle, Town of Gypsum, Town of Minturn, Town of Red Cliff, and the Town of
Vail. Major transportation routes include Interstate 70, U.S. Highway 6, U.S. Highway 24, State
Highway 82, and State Highway 131. Major waterways in the district include the Colorado River,
Eagle River, Piney River, Gypsum Creek, Brush Creek, Derby Creek, Rock Creek, Alkali Creek,
and Gore Creek. Figure 2 shows Eagle County, incorporated communities, major transportation
routes, major waterways, and location within the state.
Demographics
The U.S. Census Bureau collects specific demographic information for Eagle County. The
estimated population of the planning area is 55,731.3
Figure 1: County Population, 1890-2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau4
3 https://data.census.gov/.
4 https://data.census.gov/.
Figure : County Population, 1890
3,725 3,608 2,985 3,385 3,924 5,361 4,488 4,677 7,498
13,320
21,928
41,659
52,197
55,731
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Section Three | Planning Area Overview
14 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Figure 2: Eagle County Planning Area
Section Three | Planning Area Overview
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 15
Figure 3: Population by Age Cohort and Sex (2020)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau5
Community and regional vulnerability are impacted by growing or declining populations. Areas
growing quickly may lack resources to provide services for all residents in a reasonable timeframe
including snow removal, emergency storm shelters, repairs to damaged infrastructure, or even
tracking the location of vulnerable populations. Eagle County has displayed large population
growth since 1970. However, growth has slowed in 2010 and 2020. Additional population
information broken down by community can be found in Appendix C: Planning Area Profile.
In general, certain populations may have increased vulnerability due to difficulty with medical
issues, extremes in age, and communication issues due to language barriers. Several at-risk
populations have been identified in Eagle County. These include:
Schools
Care Facilities
Populations That Speak English as a Second Language
Racial Minorities
The tables on the next page list the at-risk populations in Eagle County. For additional information
about at-risk populations see Appendix C: Planning Area Profile.
Table 3: School Inventory
School District Total Enrollment
(2022-2023)
Teachers
(2022-2023)
Eagle County School District 6,623 532
Source: Colorado Department of Education6,7
5 https://data.census.gov/.
6 -
https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/pupilcurrent.
7
https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/pupilcurrent.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Under 5
5 to 9
10 to 14
15 to 19
20 to 24
25 to 29
30 to 34
35 to 39
40 to 44
45 to 49
50 to 54
55 to 59
60 to 64
65 to 69
70 to 74
75 to 79
80 to 84
Over 85
Percentage of the Population
Female %Male %
Section Three | Planning Area Overview
16 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Table 4: County Inventory of Care Facilities
Hospitals Adult Care Homes Assisted Living Homes
1 1 1
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment8
Table 5: County & State ESL and Poverty At-Risk Populations
Jurisdiction Percent That Speaks English as
Second Language
Eagle County 25.8%
State of Colorado 16.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau9
Table 6: County Racial Composition Trends 2010 2010 2021 2021 %
Race Number % of Total Number % of Total Change
White, Not Hispanic 43,428 83.2% 45,334 81.4% -1.8%
Black 365 0.7% 501 0.9% 0.2%
American Indian and Alaskan
Native 365 0.7% 56 0.1% -0.6%
Asian 522 1.0% 779 1.4% 0.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander 0 0.0% 56 0.1% 0.1%
Other Races 6,421 12.3% 2,061 3.7% -8.6%
Two or More Races 1,096 2.1% 6,906 12.4% 10.3%
Total Population 52,197 - 55,694 - -
Source: U.S. Census Bureau10,11
Housing
The U.S. Census Bureau provides information related to housing units and potential areas of
vulnerability. Potentially vulnerable housing characteristics include vacant housing, rental
properties, mobile homes, older housing, those with no internet, and homes with no vehicles
available. The tables below show vulnerable housing characteristics in Eagle County. Additional
housing information broken down by community can be found in Appendix C: Planning Area
Profile.
Table 7: County Housing Characteristics
Jurisdiction Occupied Housing
Units
Vacant Housing
Units
Owner Occupied
Housing Units
Renter Occupied
Housing Units
Eagle County 19,511 (59.8%) 13,100 (40.2%) 13,884 (71.2%) 5,627 (28.8%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau12
8 https://cdphe.colorado.gov/find-and-
compare-facilities.
9 1
https://data.census.gov/.
10 -https://data.census.gov.
11 United 1 Census Bureau American Community Survey: DP05: ACS Demographic and Housing
https://data.census.gov/.
12 1
https://data.census.gov/.
Section Three | Planning Area Overview
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 17
Table 8: Vulnerable County & State Housing Characteristics
Housing Characteristics Eagle County State of
Colorado
Occupied Housing Units 19,511
(59.8%)
2,227,932
(90.8%)
Lacking Complete Plumbing Facilities 0.1% 0.3%
Lacking Complete Kitchen Facilities 0.5%0.7%
No Telephone Service Available 1.0% 1.0%
Broadband Internet Subscription 95.1%90.9%
No Vehicles Available 3.4% 5.0%
Mobile Homes 5.9%3.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau13,14
Figure 4: Housing Age in Eagle County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau15
Housing Crisis
Eagle County is a highly desirable area to visit and live in, with premier ski resorts and abundant
public land for recreation. However, the cost of housing in Eagle County has increased
dramatically over the last decade because of low interest rates on secondary properties and
increases in short-term rental properties. The lack of available and affordable workforce housing
has caused many employers to have unfilled positions. Those working in Eagle County often have
to pay high rents, work multiple jobs, or commute into the county from other areas.16
13 1
https://data.census.gov/.
14 1 Census Bureau American Community Survey: DP02: Selected Social Characteristics in the
https://data.census.gov/.
15 1
https://data.census.gov/.
16 https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2023/12/Community_Wildfire_Protection_Plan-ECFinal.pdf.
2.1 0.6 0.8
3
16.5
22.8
31
19
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Pre 1940 1940-19491950-19591960-19691970-19791980-19891990-19992000-20092010-2020
Year Built
Section Three | Planning Area Overview
18 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Employment and Economics
The U.S. Census Bureau provides information related to employment and economic indicators.
Low-income populations and the unemployed may be more vulnerable to certain hazards like
flooding and severe winter weather. Additional employment and economic information broken
down by community can be found in Appendix C: Planning Area Profile.
Table 9: Vulnerable Employment & Economic Characteristics
Employment and Economic
Characteristics Eagle County State of
Colorado
Percent of People Living Below the
Poverty Line 9.2% 9.6%
Median Household Income $91,338 $80,184
Unemployment Rate 3.9% 4.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau17
17 1
https://data.census.gov/.
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 19
Section Four: Planning
Process Summary
Introduction
The process utilized to develop a hazard mitigation plan is often as important as the final planning
document. For this planning process, Eagle County adapted the four-step hazard mitigation
planning process outlined by FEMA to fit the needs of the participating jurisdictions. The following
pages give a summary of the planning process that took place during the plan update.
Plan Update Process
Once Eagle County was awarded a FEMA grant for their hazard mitigation plan update, JEO
Consulting Group, Inc. was contracted to assist, guide, and facilitate the planning process and
plan assembly. To start the project, a meeting was held between Eagle County staff and JEO
Consulting Group, Inc. to discuss the planning process and a general schedule for the plan update
(Figure 5).
Figure 5: Project Timeline
FEMA Planning Process Requirements
Requirement §201.6(b): Planning process. An open public involvement process is essential to the
development of an effective plan. In order to develop a more comprehensive approach to reducing the
effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include:
(1) An opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to
plan approval;
(2) An opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard
mitigation activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as
businesses, academia, and other private and non-profit interests to be involved in the planning
process; and
(3) Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical
information.
Requirement §201.6(c)(1): The plan shall document the planning process used to develop the plan,
including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved.
Section Four | Planning Process Summary
20 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
To be a participant in the development of this plan update, jurisdictions were required to have, at
a minimum, one representative present at the Round 1 or Round 2 meetings, view meeting
recordings, or attend a follow-up meeting with either JEO Consulting Group, Inc., or Eagle County.
Round 1 Meetings: Hazard Identification & Plan Integration
The intent of the Round 1 Meeting was to familiarize jurisdictional representatives (i.e., the local
planning teams), stakeholders, and the public with the plan update process, expected actions for
the coming months, the responsibilities of being a participant, and to collect preliminary
information to update the plan. After the meeting, the attendees conducted risk and vulnerability
assessments based on local capabilities, previous occurrences of hazards, and potential
exposure. In addition, local planning team members evaluated potential integration of the hazard
mitigation plan alongside other local planning mechanisms.
The Round 1 Meeting was held as a hybrid meeting where participants, stakeholders, and the
public could either join in-person or online via Google Meets. The meeting was held on Monday
October 2, 2023, at the Eagle County Building Emergency Operations Center from 10:00am to
11:30am. Virtual and in-person sign-in sheets can be found in Appendix B: Planning Process
Documentation.
Round 2 Meetings: Mitigation Strategies, National Flood Insurance Program, & Plan
Maintenance
Round 2 information was designed to identify and prioritize new mitigation measures, update
previous mitigation actions from the 2019 hazard mitigation plan, update National Flood Insurance
Program information, and identify when the plan would be reviewed and by whom. Attendees
were also asked to review the information collected from the Round 1 meeting related to their
jurisdiction through this planning process for accuracy.
The Round 2 Meeting was held as a hybrid meeting where participants, stakeholders, and the
public could either join in-person or online via Google Meets. The meeting was held on
Wednesday January 17, 2024, at the Eagle County Building Emergency Operations Center from
10:30am to 11:30am. Virtual and in-person sign-in sheets can be found in Appendix B: Planning
Process Documentation.
Public Review
Once the hazard mitigation plan draft was completed, a public review period was opened to allow
local planning teams and community members at large to review the plan, provide comments,
and request changes. The public review period was open from February 28, 2024, through March
13, 2024. Participating jurisdictions were emailed a notification of this public review period. A link
to the draft plan was also made available on the website
(https://www.eaglecounty.us/departments___services/emergency_management/emergency_pla
ns.php) and a Facebook post was made to the Eagle County Public Information Office page.
Jurisdictions and the public could provide comments via phone call or email. A review of the
comments and who they were from can be found in Appendix B: Planning Process
Documentation. All changes and comments were reviewed and incorporated into the plan as
applicable.
Plan Adoption
Based on FEMA requirements, this multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan must be formally
adopted by each participant through approval of a resolution. This approval will create individual
ownership of the plan by each participant. Formal adoption prov
Section Four | Planning Process Summary
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 21
resolution draft provided to participating jurisdictions is located in Appendix B: Planning Process
Documentation along with any copies of adoption resolutions that have already been received.
Stakeholder and Public Involvement
To notify and engage the public in the planning process, a wide range of stakeholder groups,
State of Colorado agencies, neighboring jurisdictions, and the general public were contacted and
encouraged to participate in the plan update. Lists of the notified stakeholders, agencies, and
neighboring jurisdictions can be found in Appendix B: Planning Process Documentation.
The Eagle County Planning Team was asked to identify any underserved communities or
vulnerable populations in the planning area not already identified, so they could have the
opportunity to be involved in the planning process. The planning team identified individuals and
families where Spanish is the primary language spoken. To include this group, the public survey
was made available in Spanish, and the project website was also made available in Spanish.
Stakeholder Groups
There were 37 stakeholder groups that were identified and emailed invitations to participate in the
planning process by attending meetings. Climax Molybdenum, Vail Mountain School, Stone Creek
Charter School, Arrowhead Metro District, Lake Creek Metro District, Reudi Shores Metro District,
Timber Springs Metro, Holland Creek Metro District, Red Sky Ranch Metro District, Two Rivers
Metro District, Bachelor Gulch Metro District, and Buckhorn Valley Metro District attended
meetings. Vail Mountain School returned information about their prioritized hazards of concern.
Those hazards and reasons they were selected as a prioritized hazard are given below.
Avalanche: Vail Mountain School is concerned with avalanches because they threaten
backcountry school programming and experiential education, risk of injury to students and
staff, blocked transportation routes, and damage to the school building.
Drought: Direct impacts on the school are unlikely, however, drought can have a large
impact on the local ski and recreation economy. This can have a trickle-down effect on the
school budget and student population. Drought also increases the likelihood of wildfires.
Landslides: Vail Mountain School is concerned with landslides because of the risk of injury
to students and staff, blocked transportation routes, disruption of services, and damage to
the school building.
Severe Winter Weather:
ability to cause injuries, blocked transportation routes, and disruption of services. The
school is often interrupted when severe weather closes Interstate 70.
Wildfire: Vail Mountain School is concerned with a wildfire impacting families causing them
to leave the area. Wildfire could also damage the school and cause a long-term disruption
in operations and school programming.
FEMA Plan Adoption Requirement
Requirement §201.6(c)(5): For multi-jurisdictional plans, each jurisdiction requesting approval of the
plan must document that it has been formally adopted.
Section Four | Planning Process Summary
22 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Vulnerable Populations
Through discussions with Eagle County Emergency Management, those who primarily speak
Spanish, were identified as a potential vulnerable population in the county. Targeted outreach to
this population included a project announcement on the county website in Spanish and the public
survey available in Spanish. The Spanish Public Survey was posted on the Eagle County Public
Safety Information and Eagle County Emergency Management website, the Family Resource
Center Facebook page, the Mi Salud and Mi Charco Facebook pages, and a WhatsApp group of
166 Spanish speakers in Eagle County. Copies of the postings can be found in Appendix B:
Planning Process Documentation. Survey results from the Spanish survey were added to the
overall public survey responses and given to Eagle County Emergency Management.
State of Colorado Agencies
To comply with the additional State of Colorado plan requirements various state agencies were
contacted and emailed invitations to participate in the planning process by attending meetings or
reviewing the draft plan. Representatives from Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado
Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management attended the public meetings.
Neighboring Jurisdictions
Neighboring jurisdictions were notified and invited to participate in the planning process by
attending meetings. A representative from Summit County and the City of Leadville attended the
Round 1 Meeting. No comments or revisions were received from any neighboring jurisdictions.
Public Survey
The general public was encouraged to participate in the planning process through a public survey
that was available online and by hard copy in both English and Spanish. The survey was shared
with the Copies of the
survey along with outreach documentation can be found in Appendix B: Planning Process
Documentation. The purpose of the survey was to collect specific concerns related to hazards
and projects the public have a vested interest in. It was available beginning after the Round 1
meeting and closed a week prior to the Round 2 meeting. In total there were 92 responses to the
survey from members of the public with a majority (40/92) coming from the Town of Gypsum.
Results of the public survey were shared with participating jurisdictions during the Round 2
meeting. These results helped influence hazard prioritization and mitigation actions selected by
local planning teams. The public survey could also be used by participating jurisdictions to
determine needed capabilities and future outreach preferences.
The most commonly experienced hazard events for residents included wildfire, severe winter
weather, and lightning. This was similar to the ranked level of concern for hazard events, with one
major difference, drought. The top hazards of concern included: wildfire, drought, and severe
winter weather. Wildfire fuels reduction and early warning systems were the most popular
mitigation projects of importance for the public. The full results of the public survey can be found
in Appendix B: Planning Process Documentation.
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 23
Section Five: Risk
Assessment Summary
Introduction
The ultimate purpose of this hazard mitigation plan is to minimize the loss of life and property
across Eagle County due to natural and human-caused hazards. The basis for the planning
process is the county and local risk assessment. This section contains a summary of potential
hazards, county vulnerabilities and exposures, probability of future occurrences, and potential
impacts and losses. By conducting a county and local risk assessment, participating jurisdictions
can develop specific strategies to address areas of concern identified through this process. This
section is meant to provide a summary of the risk assessment for Eagle County. The full risk
assessment can be found in Appendix A: Full Risk Assessment.
Hazard Identification
The identification of relevant hazards for Eagle County began with a review of the Colorado
Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023-2028. The Eagle County Planning Team reviewed,
discussed, and determined the list of hazards to be profiled in this hazard mitigation plan update.
It was decided that the hazards addressed in the 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan were still applicable
and would be used for this plan update. Two hazards were added to the plan: intentional attack
and transportation incidents. The hazards for which a risk assessment was completed are listed
below.
Table 10: Hazards Addressed in the Plan
Hazards Addressed in the Plan
Avalanche Landslides Transportation Incidents
Drought Lightning Wildfire
Floods Severe Wind
Intentional Attack Severe Winter Weather
Hazards identified in the Colorado Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023 - 2028 that were
not identified in the Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan update include the following list.18
Animal Disease Outbreak
Earthquake
Erosion / Deposition
Expansive Soils
Extreme Heat
Ground Subsidence
Hail
Pandemic
Pest Infestation
Tornado
18 Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. 2023 Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan
2023-2028 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MPL0Oiy-yZYDIMziTvYkR12s35FzG-G8/view.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
24 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
These hazards were reviewed by Eagle County and the participating jurisdictions and were
chosen to not be included in this plan due to a variety of reasons. Specific reasons for omission
are discussed by hazard below.
Animal Disease Outbreak
Agriculture, the county ranks 47 out of 63 Colorado counties in livestock products sold. Eagle
County and the local planning teams felt that this hazard was of very low concern and did not
need to be profiled in the hazard mitigation plan.
Earthquake
Earthquakes were not profiled in this plan due to minimal historical incidents and low magnitudes.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there have been eight earthquakes in Eagle County
since 1900.19 These earthquakes had an average magnitude of 2.3 on the Richter Scale with the
largest being 3.4. Earthquakes at this magnitude have no potential damage.20
Erosion / Deposition
Erosion and deposition can come from several sources including water, wind, waves, or moving
ice. The most common way this occurs in Colorado is water and wind. As outlined in the Colorado
Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023-2028, wind deposits for Eagle County are low at
between 6.3%-17.9%.21 Erosion and deposition from water is addressed in the Floods risk
assessment of this plan. Erosion / Deposition is not specifically profiled in this hazard mitigation
plan because of these reasons.
Expansive Soils
Expansive soils are not profiled in this plan due to several reasons. In the Colorado Enhanced
State Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023-2028, the amount of Eagle County land covered by expansive
soils is low at between 1%-8.28%.22 In discussion with the planning team, there have been no
notable past events or damages from expansive soils.
Extreme Heat
Due to the high elevation of Eagle County, extreme heat is not a concern for the planning team.
Historical temperature data shows average highs in the summer between 70°F and 80°F.23
Average monthly high temperature has only been over 80°F three times since 1895. Because of
this, extreme heat has not been profiled in this plan.
Ground Subsidence
Ground subsidence risk for Eagle County is low according to the planning team. According to the
Colorado Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023-2028, the percentage of ground
subsidence areas in the county is between 9.87% and 28.6%.24 While there has been a history of
19 https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search/.
20 U.S. Geological Survey. 2024.
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/earthquake-magnitude-energy-release-and-shaking-intensity.
21
2023-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MPL0Oiy-yZYDIMziTvYkR12s35FzG-G8/view.
22
2023-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MPL0Oiy-yZYDIMziTvYkR12s35FzG-G8/view.
23
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/time-series/CO-037/tmax/1/0/1895-
2024?base_prd=true&begbaseyear=1901&endbaseyear=2024.
24
2023-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MPL0Oiy-yZYDIMziTvYkR12s35FzG-G8/view.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 25
ground subsidence events in Eagle County, this has been mostly taken care of by local building
codes and development regulations. The Planning Team could not identify any further mitigation
actions so this hazard will not be specifically profiled in the plan.
Hail
Hail has rarely occurred in Eagle County in the past. Since 1996, National Centers for
Environmental Information (NCEI) data has reported two hail events in Eagle County. Both hail
events were sized at 0.75 inches and did not cause any reported damage.25 Due to the lack of
historical events, the likelihood of future occurrences is low and therefore this hazard has not
been profiled in this plan.
Pandemic
As shown by the most recent Covid-19 Pandemic, a disease outbreak pandemic can occur in any
location and have a large impact on people and the local economy. However, in discussions with
the planning team, it was decided that the Pandemic hazard would not be profiled in this hazard
mitigation plan. The planning team felt this hazard would be better addressed in plans created by
the state and local health department.
Pest Infestation
risk. Both the Western Balsam Bark Beetle and the Western Spruce Budworm are active in the
county and can kill fir and spruce trees.26 Pests impacting wildfire risk is discussed in the wildfire
risk assessment. Because of this, pest infestation will not be individually profiled in this plan.
Tornado
Tornadoes have very rarely occurred in Eagle County in the past. Since 1996, NCEI data reported
one tornado event in Eagle County. This tornado was an F0 and did not result in any damage.
Due to the lack of historical events, this hazard has not been profiled in this plan.
Hazard Assessment Summary Tables
The following table provides an overview of the data contained in the hazard profiles. This table
is intended to be a quick reference for people using the plan. There are five main pieces of data
used within these tables.
Property and Crop Damage in Dollars: This is the total dollar amount of all property
damage and crop damage as recorded in federal, state, and local data sources. The
limitation to these data sources is that dollar figures usually are estimates and often do
not include all damages from every event, but only officially recorded damages from
reported events.
Total Years of Record: This is the span of years there is data available for recorded
events.
Number of Hazard Events: This shows how often an event occurs. The frequency of a
hazard event will affect how a community responds. Severe winter weather may not cause
25
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=8%2CCOLORADO .
26 https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-
management/common-forest-insects-diseases/.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
26 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
much damage each time, but multiple storms can have an incremental effect on housing
and utilities. In contrast, severe wind can have a widespread effect on a community.
Annual probability: This can be calculated based on the total years of record and the
total number of years in which an event occurred. An example of the annual probability
estimate is found below:
The following table provides loss estimates for hazards with sufficient data. Detailed descriptions
of major events are included in Appendix A: Full Risk Assessment and Section Eight: Participant
Profiles. It should be noted that NCEI data are not all inclusive and the database provides very
limited information on crop losses. To provide a better picture of the crop losses associated with
the hazards within Eagle County, crop loss information provided by the Spatial Hazard Events
and Losses Database for the United States (SHELDUS) was utilized for this update of the plan.
Data for all the hazards are not always available, so only those with an available dataset are
included in the loss estimation.
Table 11: Loss Estimation for Eagle County
Hazard Type Number of
Events Property Damage1 Crop Damage2
Avalanche11 14 N/A N/A
Drought5 551 out of
1,545 Months $0 $943,396
Flash Flood1 22 $727,500 $172,414
Floods Flood1 10 $3,240,000
Dam Failure3 4 N/A N/A
Intentional Attack4 1 $24,000,000 N/A
Landslides1 19 $3,206,000 $0
Lightning2 8 $513,379 $0
Strong Wind 7 $35,500
Severe Wind1 Thunderstorm
Wind 32 $14,000 $9,747
Blizzard 3 N/A
Extreme
Cold/Wind Chill 1 N/A
Severe Winter Heavy Snow 178 N/A N/A
Weather1 Ice Storm 1 N/A
Winter Storm 441 N/A
Winter Weather 939 N/A
Auto7 14,700 N/A
Aviation8 49 N/A
Transportation Rail9 30 $16,421,960 N/A
Incidents Hazardous
Materials
Release10,12
87 $1,044,567
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 27
Hazard Type Number of
Events Property Damage1 Crop Damage2
Wildfire6 1,447 $14,030,000 $0
Total 17,993 $63,232,906 $1,125,557
1 NCEI, 1996 May 202327
2 SHELDUS, 1960 202128
3 Stanford University, 1890 September 202329
4 University of Maryland, 1970-2020.30 Eagle County Planning Team
5 NCEI, 1895 September 202331
6 U.S. Forest Service, 1992 202032
7 Colorado Department of Transportation, 2010 202233
8 National Transportation Safety Board, 1962 September 202334
9 Federal Railroad Administration, 1975 July 202335
10 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1971 202236
11 Colorado Avalanche Information Center, 2010 202337
12 Colorado State Patrol, 2013 202338
Table 12: County Risk Assessment
Hazard
Previous Occurrence
Events/Years of
Record
Approximate Annual
Probability Likely Extent
Avalanche11 10/14 71% D1-D5
Drought5 551/1,545 months 36% D1-D4
Floods1,3 Floods: 19/27
Dam Failure: 4/133
Floods: 70%
Dam Failure: 3%
Some inundation of
structures (5% of structures)
and roads near streams.
Some evacuations of people
may be necessary
Intentional Attack4 1/51 2% Varies by event
Landslides1 11/27 41% Varies by event
Lightning2 61/61 100% Varies by event
Severe Wind1 13/27 48% Avg: 65 mph
Range: 52-92 mph
27
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=8%2CCOLORADO .
28
https://sheldus.asu.edu/SHELDUS/.
29
http://npdp.stanford.edu/dam_incidents.
30 University of Maryland and National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism. 1970-
https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/.
31 National Centers for Environmental Information. 1895-
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/time-series/CO-037/pdsi/all/9/1895-
2023?base_prd=true&begbaseyear=1901&endbaseyear=2000.
32 -
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rds/archive/catalog/RDS-2013-0009.6.
33 Colorado Department of Transportation. 2010-
https://tableau.state.co.us/t/CDOT/views/CDOTCrashSummaryAVtestver2_0/StatewideSummary?%3Aorigin=card_share
_link&%3Aembed=y&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y.
34 National Transportation Safety Board. 1962-
https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/AviationQueryV2.aspx.
35 Federal Railroad Administration. 1975-
https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/query/TrainAccidentDamage.aspx .
36 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. 1971-2022. "Incident Statistics: Colorado".
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat-program-management-data-and-statistics/data-operations/incident-statistics.
37
https://avalanche.state.co.us/accidents/colorado.
38 Colorado State Patrol. 2013-2023. Direct Communication.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
28 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Hazard
Previous Occurrence
Events/Years of
Record
Approximate Annual
Probability Likely Extent
Severe Winter
Weather1 27/27 100%
15°-30° below zero (wind
chill)
2-24
Transportation
Incidents7,8,9,10,12
Auto: 13/13
Aviation: 33/61
Rail: 20/48
Hazardous Material
Release: 11/11
Auto: 100%
Aviation: 54%
Rail: 42%
Hazardous Material
Release: 100%
Varies by event
Wildfire6 1,447/29 100%
Avg 28.4 acres
Homes and structures in the
WUI at risk
1 NCEI, 1996 May 202339
2 SHELDUS, 1960 202140
3 Stanford University, 1890 September 202341
4 University of Maryland, 1970-2020.42 Eagle County Planning Team
5 NCEI, 1895 September 202343
6 U.S. Forest Service, 1992 202044
7 Colorado Department of Transportation, 2010 202245
8 National Transportation Safety Board, 1962 September 202346
9 Federal Railroad Administration, 1975 July 202347
10 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1971 202248
11 Colorado Avalanche Information Center, 2010 202349
12 Colorado State Patrol, 2013 202350
39
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=8%2CCOLORADO .
40
https://sheldus.asu.edu/SHELDUS/.
41
http://npdp.stanford.edu/dam_incidents.
42 University of Maryland and National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism. 1970-
https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/.
43 National Centers for Environmental Information. 1895-
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/time-series/CO-037/pdsi/all/9/1895-
2023?base_prd=true&begbaseyear=1901&endbaseyear=2000.
44 -
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rds/archive/catalog/RDS-2013-0009.6.
45 Colorado Department of Transportation. 2010-
https://tableau.state.co.us/t/CDOT/views/CDOTCrashSummaryAVtestver2_0/StatewideSummary?%3Aorigin=card_share
_link&%3Aembed=y&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y.
46 National Transportation Safety Board. 1962-
https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/AviationQueryV2.aspx.
47 Federal Railroad Administration. 1975-
https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/query/TrainAccidentDamage.aspx .
48 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. 1971-2022. "Incident Statistics: Colorado".
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat-program-management-data-and-statistics/data-operations/incident-statistics.
49
https://avalanche.state.co.us/accidents/colorado.
50 Colorado State Patrol. 2013-2023. Direct Communication.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 29
FEMA National Risk Index
FEMA National Risk Index is an online tool that analyzes natural hazard and community risk
factors to develop a risk measurement for each county in the United States. Eighteen natural
hazards are given a score from very high to very low. The table below gives the National Risk
Index ratings for Eagle County. Risk Index scores are calculated using an equation that combines
scores for expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. All values fall
between 0 (lowest possible value) and 100 (highest possible value).
Table 13: National Risk Index
Hazard Eagle County
Avalanche Very High (94.7)
Coastal Flooding Not Applicable
Cold Wave Very Low (27.9)
Drought Very Low (22.2)
Earthquake Very Low (60.0)
Hail Relatively Low (69.0)
Heat Wave No Rating (0.0)
Hurricane Not Applicable
Ice Storm Relatively Low (49.3)
Landslide Relatively Moderate (94.7)
Lightning Relatively Moderate (83.5)
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low (50.6)
Strong Wind Very Low (3.6)
Tornado Very Low (16.0)
Tsunami Not Applicable
Volcanic Activity Not Applicable
Wildfire Relatively Low (65.0)
Winter Weather Very Low (4.0)
Overall Score Very Low (32.01)
Source: FEMA51
Historical Disaster Declarations
Presidential Disaster Declarations
Presidential disaster declarations by county are available via FEMA from 1953 to October 2023.
The following table describes the presidential disaster declarations within the county for the period
of record. Eagle County has received nine presidential disaster declarations.
Table 14: Presidential Disaster Declarations
Disaster
Declaration
Number
Declaration Date Title Incident Type
3025 1/29/1977 Drought Drought
719 7/27/1984 Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides &
Flooding Flood
1421 6/19/2002 Wildfires Fire
2457 7/31/2002 CO Panorama Fire Fire
51 September 2023. https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/map.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
30 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Disaster
Declaration
Number
Declaration Date Title Incident Type
3224 9/5/2005 Hurricane Katrina Evacuation Coastal Storm
5249 7/4/2018 Lake Christine Fire Fire
3436 3/13/2020 Covid-19 Biological
4498 3/28/2020 Covid-19 Pandemic Biological
5334 8/19/2020 Grizzly Creek Fire Fire
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1953-October 202352
USDA Secretarial Disasters
Several U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretarial Disasters for Eagle County have occurred
since 2012. Table 15 lists these disaster events. All of the disasters were caused by drought.
Table 15: USDA Secretarial Disasters (2012-2023)
Year Type Declaration Number
2012 Drought S3260
2013 Drought S3456
2013 Drought S3548
2013 Drought S3575
2018 Drought S4336
2018 Drought S4352
2018 Drought S4386
2019 Drought S4468
2019 Drought S4481
2020 Drought S4648
2020 Drought S4755
2020 Drought S4770
2020 Drought S4775
2021 Drought S4917
2022 Drought S5147
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2003-202153
State Emergency Declarations
From 1980 to 2023, there have been 21 emergency declarations from Colorado governors for
events that impacted Eagle County. The table below shows all the declarations, the year they
occurred, the hazard, and locations affected.
Table 16: State Emergency Declarations
Year Type Location Affected
1984 Flooding
Delta, Dolores, Hinsdale, Saguache, Mesa,
Montrose, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Pitkin, San Miguel,
Ouray, Eagle, Gunnison Counties
1994 Wildfires Statewide
2002 Wildfires Statewide
2002 Drought Statewide
2003 Sinkhole Interstate 70, Eagle County
52 Federal Emergency Management Agency. October 2023 https://www.fema.gov/openfema-data-
page/disaster-declarations-summaries-v2.
53 https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-
services/disaster-assistance-program/disaster-designation-information/index.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 31
Year Type Location Affected
2003 Snow Emergency Statewide
2009 Severe Blizzard Statewide
2009 Severe Spring Snowstorm Statewide
2013 Winter Storm Statewide
2017 Wildfire Statewide
2018 Wildfire Statewide
2018 Wildfire Statewide
2018 Drought 40 Counties (Including Eagle County)
2020 COVID-19 Statewide
2020 Wildfire Garfield, Eagle Counties
2020 Wildfire Statewide
2021 Severe Winter Weather Statewide
2021 Burn Scar Flooding, Mudslides,
Rockslides
Garfield, Larimer, Eagle, Grand, Routt, Rio Blanco,
Pitkin Counties
2022 Avian Influenza Statewide
2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Statewide
2023 Extreme Cold Statewide
Source: State of Colorado, 1980-202354
Hazard Profiles
Information from participating jurisdictions was collected and reviewed alongside hazard
occurrence, magnitude, and event narratives as provided by local, state, and federal databases.
Profiles for each identified hazard in the plan were created to examine their risk and potential
impact in Eagle County. These full profiles can be found in Appendix A: Full Risk Assessment.
Hazards of local concern or events which have deviated from the norm are discussed in greater
detail in each respective participant profile (see Section Eight: Participant Profiles of this plan).
Local planning teams prioritized hazards of concern from the county hazard list based on historical
hazard occurrences, potential impacts, and local capabilities. The table below lists the participants
along with their prioritized hazards of concern. It is important to note that while a jurisdiction may
not have selected a specific hazard as prioritized, hazard events can impact any jurisdiction at
any time and their selection is not a full indication of risk.
Table 17: Prioritized Hazards of Concern by Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Av
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Fl
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In
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n
t
s
Wi
l
d
f
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r
e
Eagle County X X X X X
Town of Avon X X X
Town of Eagle X X X
54
2023-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MPL0Oiy-yZYDIMziTvYkR12s35FzG-G8/view.
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
32 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Jurisdiction
Av
a
l
a
n
c
h
e
Dr
o
u
g
h
t
Fl
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d
s
In
t
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t
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p
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n
In
c
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n
t
s
Wi
l
d
f
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r
e
Town of
Gypsum X X X X
Town of
Minturn X X X X X
Town of Red
Cliff X X X X
Town of Vail X X X X X X
Basalt Library
District X X
Basalt
Sanitation
District
X X X X
Berry Creek
Metro District X
Cordillera Metro
District X X X X
Eagle County
Paramedic
Services
X X X
Eagle County
School District X X X
Eagle River Fire
Protection
District
X X X
Eagle River
Water &
Sanitation
District
X X X X X
Eagle Vail
Metropolitan
District
X X X
Eagle Valley
Library District X X X
Eagle Valley
Transportation
Authority
X X X X
Greater Eagle
Fire Protection
District
X X X X X X
Gypsum Fire
Protection
District
X X X X
Mountain
Recreation
Metropolitan
District
X X X X X
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 33
Jurisdiction
Av
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l
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n
c
h
e
Dr
o
u
g
h
t
Fl
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d
s
In
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In
c
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t
s
Wi
l
d
f
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r
e
Roaring Fork
Fire Rescue
Authority
X X X X
Vail Recreation
District X X X X X
Section Five | Risk Assessment Summary
34 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
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Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 35
Section Six: Mitigation
Strategy
Introduction
The primary focus of the mitigation strategy is to identify action items to reduce the effects of
hazards on existing infrastructure and property based on the established goals and objectives of
the hazard mitigation plan. These actions should consider the most cost effective and technically
feasible options to address risk.
Summary of Changes
The development of the mitigation strategy for this plan update includes the addition of new
mitigation actions, updated status or removal of past mitigation actions, and revisions to
descriptions for consistency across Eagle County.
Selected Mitigation and Strategic Actions
After establishing the goals, the local planning teams evaluated mitigation and strategic actions.
These actions included: the mitigation and strategic actions identified by each participating
jurisdiction in the previous plan and additional actions discussed during the update planning
process. The Eagle County Planning Team provided each participant a link to the FEMA
Mitigation Ideas document to be used as a starting point to review a wide range of potential
mitigation actions. Participants were also encouraged to think of actions that may need FEMA
grant assistance and to review their hazard prioritization section for potential mitigation and
strategic actions. Members of the Eagle County Planning Team were also available to help local
jurisdictions identify additional action alternatives. These suggestions helped participants
determine which actions would best assist their respective jurisdiction in alleviating damage in the
event of a disaster.
FEMA Mitigation Strategy Requirements
Requirement §201.6(c)(3)(i): [The hazard mitigation strategy shall include a] description of mitigation
goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.
Requirement §201.6(c)(3)(ii): [The mitigation strategy shall include a] section that identifies and
analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce
the effects of each hazard, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.
Requirement: §201.6(c)(3)(ii)
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, and continued compliance with NFIP
requirements, as appropriate.
Requirement: §201.6(c)(3)(iii): [The mitigation strategy section shall include] an action plan describing
how the actions identified in section (c)(3)(ii) will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the
local jurisdiction. Prioritization shall include a special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are
maximized according to a cost benefit review of the proposed projects and their associated costs.
Requirement §201.6(c)(3)(iv): For multi-jurisdictional plans, there must be identifiable action items
specific to the jurisdiction requesting FEMA approval or credit of the plan.
Section Six | Mitigation Strategy
36 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
During the update of previous identified actions and the identification of new actions, local
planning teams prioritized each identified mitigation and strategic action as high, medium, or low.
The listed priority rating does not indicate which actions will be implemented first. Generally, high
priority actions either address a major concern for the jurisdiction, have few to no challenges in
implementation, and/or garner large support from the public and administration. Low priority
actions either address a minor concern for the jurisdiction, have many challenges in
implementation, and/or may not have support from the public or administration at this time.
Medium priority actions may only have one or two of the items listed above. A mitigation and
strategic
The mitigation and strategic actions are the core of a hazard mitigation plan. The local planning
teams were instructed that each hazard identified in the plan must have an action that addresses
it. Mitigation and strategic
assessment and capability assessment. Jurisdictions were encouraged to choose actions that
were realistic and relevant to the concerns identified.
It is important to note that not all the mitigation and strategic actions identified by a jurisdiction
may ultimately be implemented due to limited capabilities, prohibitive costs, low benefit-cost ratio,
or other concerns. These factors may not be identified during this planning process. Additionally,
some jurisdictions may identify and pursue additional mitigation actions not identified in this
hazard mitigation plan.
Participant Mitigation and Strategic Actions
Mitigation and strategic actions identified by participants of the HMP are found in the Mitigation
and Strategic Actions Matrix in Appendix D: Mitigation Strategy. Additional information about
selected actions can be found in the participant profiles in Section Eight: Participant Profiles. Each
action includes the following information in the respective community profile.
Action: General title of the action item.
Description: Brief summary of what the action item(s) will accomplish.
Hazard(s) Addressed: Which hazard the mitigation action aims to address.
Estimated Cost: General cost estimate for implementing the mitigation action for the
appropriate jurisdiction.
Local Funding: A list of any potential local funding mechanisms to fund the action.
Timeline: General timeline as established by planning participants.
Priority: General description of the importance and workability in which an action may be
implemented (high/medium/low).
Lead agency: Listing of agencies or departments which may lead or oversee the
implementation of the action item.
Status: A description of what has been done, if anything, to implement the action item.
Implementation of the actions will vary between individual plan participants based upon the
availability of existing information; funding opportunities and limitations; and administrative
capabilities of communities. Establishing a cost-benefit analysis is beyond the scope of this plan
and could potentially be completed prior to submission of a project grant application or as part of
a five-year update. Completed, removed, kept, and new mitigation actions for each participating
jurisdiction can be found in Section Eight: Participant Profiles.
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 37
Section Seven: Plan
Implementation and
Maintenance
Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan
Each participating jurisdiction in the Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan will be responsible for
monitoring, evaluating, and updating the plan during its five-year lifespan. Hazard mitigation
projects will be prioritized by each
the public and business owners. Each local planning team will be responsible for plan
maintenance, the frequency of review, and how the public will be involved. This information can
be found in
the local planning team can report on the effectiveness of the hazard mitigation plan, the status
of projects and include which implementation processes worked well, any difficulties encountered,
how coordination efforts are proceeding, and which strategies could be revised.
In addition, each local planning team will be responsible for ensuring that the plan
incorporated into applicable revisions of relevant planning documents. The
hazard mitigation plan will also consider any changes in planning documents and incorporate the
information accordingly in its next update. Appendix F: Guide to Review and Update the Hazard
Mitigation Plan may also be used to assist with plan updates.
The FEMA required update of this plan will occur at least every five years, to reduce the risk of
the plan expiring. Updates may be incorporated more frequently, especially in the event of a major
hazard. Eagle County will start meetings to discuss mitigation plan updates at least nine months
prior to the deadline for completing the plan update. The Eagle County Emergency Management
Department will review the goals and objectives of the previous plan and evaluate them to
determine whether they are still pertinent and current. Among other criteria, they may want to
consider the following.
Do the goals and objectives address current and expected conditions?
If any of the recommended projects have been completed, did they have the desired
impact on the goal for which they were identified? If not, what was the reason it was not
FEMA Plan Maintenance and Update Requirements
Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(i): [The plan maintenance process shall include a] section describing the
method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan within a five-year cycle.
Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(ii): [The plan shall include a] process by which local governments
incorporate the requirements of the mitigation plan into other planning mechanisms such as
comprehensive or capital improvement plans, when appropriate.
Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(iii): [The plan maintenance process shall include a] discussion on how the
community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process.
Section Seven | Plan Implementation and Maintenance
38 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
successful (lack of funds/resources, lack of political/popular support, underestimation of
the amount of time needed, etc.)?
Have either the nature, magnitude, and/or type of risks changed?
Are there implementation problems?
Are current resources appropriate to implement the plan?
Were the outcomes as expected?
Did the plan partners participate as originally planned?
Are there other agencies which should be included in the revision process?
If deemed necessary, a private consulting firm or individual will be hired to help facilitate the plan
update process.
Continued Public Involvement
To ensure continued plan support and input from the public and stakeholders, public involvement
should remain a top priority for each participating jurisdiction. Every participant identified ways
the public will be involved in the update process. These ways can be found in the individual
participant profiles in Section Eight: Participant Profiles. The following list below shows common
ways participants will involve the public in the updated process.
Social Media
Websites
Board/Council Meetings
Meeting Minutes
Email
Press Releases
Unforeseen Opportunities
If new, innovative mitigation options arise that could impact Eagle County or elements of this plan,
which are determined to be of importance, a plan amendment may be proposed and considered
separate from the annual review and other proposed plan amendments. Eagle County, as the
plan sponsor, provides an opportunity for jurisdictions to compile proposed amendments and send
them to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and
subsequently to FEMA, for a plan amendment. Such amendments should include all applicable
information for each proposal including description of changes, identified funding, responsible
agencies, etc.
Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms
The Eagle County Planning Team utilized a variety of plan integration tools to help communities
determine how their existing planning mechanisms were related to the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Comprehensive Plan55 2015 Plan Integration56 guide, each
jurisdiction engaged in a plan integration discussion. This discussion was facilitated by a Plan
Integration Worksheet or set of questions, created by the Eagle County Planning Team. This
55
. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/integrating-hazard-
mitigation-local-plan.pdf.
56
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/fema-plan-integration_7-1-2015.pdf.
Section Seven | Plan Implementation and Maintenance
Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 39
offered an easy way for participants to notify the Eagle County Planning Team of existing planning
mechanisms, and if they interface with the hazard mitigation plan.
Each jurisdiction referenced all relevant existing planning mechanisms and provided information
on how these did or did not address hazards and vulnerability. Summaries of plan integration are
found in each individual Participant Profile. For jurisdictions that lack existing planning
mechanisms, especially smaller communities, the plan may be used as a guide for future activity
and development in the jurisdiction.
Figure 6: First Responders at an Emergency Incident
Source: Eagle County
Section Seven | Plan Implementation and Maintenance
40 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
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Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025 41
Section Eight: Participant
Profiles
Purpose of Participant Profiles
Participant profiles contain information specific to jurisdictions participating in the Eagle County
Hazard Mitigation Plan planning effort. Participant profiles were developed with the intention of
vulnerability to hazards. These
profiles may serve as a short reference of identified vulnerabilities and mitigation actions for a
jurisdiction as they implement the mitigation plan. Information from individual jurisdictions was
collected at public and one-on-one meetings and used to establish their section of the plan.
Participant profiles may include the following elements:
Location Map
Local Planning Team
Capability Assessment
Plans and Studies
Future Development Trends
Community Lifelines
Hazard Prioritization and Mitigation Strategy
Individual participant profiles can be found in the Eagle County and Community Appendix or
Special Districts Appendix. The location of the profiles is given below.
Eagle County and Community Appendix
Eagle County
Town of Avon
Town of Eagle
Town of Gypsum
Town of Minturn
Town of Red Cliff
Town of Vail
Special Distristricts Appendix
Basalt Library District
Basalt Sanitation District
Berry Creek Metro District
Cordillera Metro District
Eagle County Paramedic Services
Eagle County School District
Eagle River Fire Protection District
Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
Eagle Vail Metropolitan District
Eagle Valley Library District
Eagle Valley Transportation Authority
Greater Eagle Fire Protection District
Gypsum Fire Protection District
Mountain Recreation Metropolitan District
Section Eight | Participant Profiles
42 Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2025
Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority
Vail Recreation District