La Paz County

Arizona — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

83.5

National percentile: 84th

La Paz County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 83.5, 84th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $28M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $28M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 16K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Riverine Flood
Medium $24M/yr
Heat Wave
Medium $2M/yr
Drought
Medium $512K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Riverine Flood Medium 2.93 / yr $24M
Heat Wave Medium 16.02 / yr $2M
Drought Medium 66.04 / yr $512K
Earthquake Low 0.04 / yr $801K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $94K
Landslide Very Low 2.55 / yr $1K
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $4
Strong Wind Low 0.36 / yr $93K
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $2K
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $9
Hail Very Low 0.06 / yr $12K
Lightning Very Low 24.53 / yr $11K
Tornado Very Low 0.07 / yr $8K
Winter Weather Very Low 0.04 / yr $44
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Cold Wave Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Ice Storm Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for La Paz County?

La Paz County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 83.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 84th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in La Paz County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (Medium, $24M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Drought (Medium, $512K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does La Paz County compare to other Arizona counties?

La Paz County ranks #12 of 15 Arizona counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. La Paz County's $28M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.