Rhode Island natural disaster risk
Rhode Island ranks #20 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are hurricane, riverine flooding, earthquake.
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 Rhode Island
All 5 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 664,854 | 93.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Kent County | 171,456 | 69.4 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 130,344 | 64.0 | Relatively Low |
| Newport County | 84,657 | 36.4 | Very Low |
| Bristol County | 50,490 | 19.4 | 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 Rhode Island
- Bristol County 19.4
- Newport County 36.4
- Washington County 64.0
- Kent County 69.4
- Providence County 93.7
Cities in Rhode Island
- Providence, RI county-score mean 82.4
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhode Island safe from natural disasters?
Rhode Island's population-weighted county-score mean is 78.5 out of 100 (high county-score mean), #20 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. No residents in this dataset live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in Rhode Island?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in Rhode Island are hurricane, riverine flooding, earthquake (means 87, 85, 80 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in Rhode Island?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Bristol County, Newport County, Washington County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.