California natural disaster risk
California ranks #51 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are earthquake, riverine flooding, wildfire.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in California
All 58 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 9,808,667 | 100.0 | Very High |
| San Diego County | 3,288,774 | 99.7 | Very High |
| Orange County | 3,165,820 | 99.8 | Very High |
| Riverside County | 2,478,600 | 99.9 | Very High |
| San Bernardino County | 2,197,104 | 99.8 | Very High |
| Santa Clara County | 1,902,047 | 99.7 | Very High |
| Alameda County | 1,649,473 | 99.8 | Very High |
| Sacramento County | 1,594,006 | 98.1 | Relatively High |
| Contra Costa County | 1,165,012 | 99.5 | Very High |
| Fresno County | 1,016,725 | 99.3 | Relatively High |
| Kern County | 915,075 | 98.9 | Relatively High |
| Ventura County | 837,469 | 99.4 | Relatively High |
| San Francisco County | 830,235 | 99.5 | Very High |
| San Joaquin County | 797,334 | 98.6 | Relatively High |
| San Mateo County | 742,340 | 99.2 | Relatively High |
| Stanislaus County | 553,990 | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| Sonoma County | 485,040 | 99.1 | Relatively High |
| Tulare County | 478,693 | 97.0 | Relatively High |
| Solano County | 451,918 | 97.0 | Relatively High |
| Santa Barbara County | 443,701 | 99.0 | Relatively High |
| Monterey County | 437,613 | 98.7 | Relatively High |
| Placer County | 419,156 | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Merced County | 290,201 | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| San Luis Obispo County | 281,555 | 95.9 | Relatively High |
| Santa Cruz County | 264,926 | 97.8 | Relatively High |
| Marin County | 257,969 | 96.4 | Relatively High |
| Yolo County | 220,564 | 91.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Butte County | 207,929 | 93.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| El Dorado County | 192,662 | 91.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Shasta County | 181,436 | 93.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Imperial County | 180,202 | 96.5 | Relatively High |
| Madera County | 160,940 | 96.4 | Relatively High |
| Kings County | 153,298 | 92.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Napa County | 134,869 | 95.3 | Relatively High |
| Humboldt County | 134,541 | 96.8 | Relatively High |
| Nevada County | 102,481 | 89.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Sutter County | 98,857 | 83.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Mendocino County | 90,244 | 94.3 | Relatively High |
| Yuba County | 84,507 | 80.9 | Relatively Low |
| Lake County | 68,152 | 93.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| San Benito County | 67,290 | 85.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tehama County | 65,167 | 88.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tuolumne County | 54,498 | 85.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Calaveras County | 46,248 | 86.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Siskiyou County | 43,466 | 89.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Amador County | 41,428 | 79.2 | Relatively Low |
| Lassen County | 30,356 | 73.1 | Relatively Low |
| Glenn County | 28,494 | 74.4 | Relatively Low |
| Del Norte County | 27,107 | 94.4 | Relatively High |
| Colusa County | 21,984 | 81.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Plumas County | 19,423 | 86.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inyo County | 18,739 | 79.3 | Relatively Low |
| Mariposa County | 17,082 | 86.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Trinity County | 15,860 | 79.5 | Relatively Low |
| Mono County | 13,148 | 46.5 | Relatively Low |
| Modoc County | 8,600 | 39.7 | Very Low |
| Sierra County | 2,746 | 31.5 | Very Low |
| Alpine County | 1,616 | 10.6 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in California
- Lassen County 73.1
- Glenn County 74.4
- Amador County 79.2
- Yuba County 80.9
- Colusa County 81.1
- Sutter County 83.7
- San Benito County 85.2
- Tuolumne County 85.2
Cities in California
- Los Angeles, CA county-score mean 100
- Riverside, CA county-score mean 99.9
- San Francisco, CA county-score mean 99.4
- San Diego, CA county-score mean 99.7
- Sacramento, CA county-score mean 96.1
- San Jose, CA county-score mean 99.3
- Fresno, CA county-score mean 98.9
- Bakersfield, CA county-score mean 98.9
- Oxnard, CA county-score mean 99.4
- Stockton, CA county-score mean 98.6
- Santa Rosa, CA county-score mean 99.1
- Vallejo, CA county-score mean 97
- Santa Barbara, CA county-score mean 99
- Salinas, CA county-score mean 98.7
Frequently asked questions
Is California safe from natural disasters?
California's population-weighted county-score mean is 98.8 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #51 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 94% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in California?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in California are earthquake, riverine flooding, wildfire (means 99, 99, 97 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in California?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Lassen County, Glenn County, Amador County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.