Alpine County

California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

10.6

National percentile: 11th

Alpine County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.6, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by avalanche and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 1K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Avalanche
High $2M/yr
Wildfire
Medium $1M/yr
Landslide
Low $4K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Avalanche High 0.33 / yr $2M
Wildfire Medium 0.01 / yr $1M
Landslide Low 2.09 / yr $4K
Earthquake Very Low 0.04 / yr $309K
Winter Weather Low 38.99 / yr $61K
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.11 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Very Low 1.29 / yr $5K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.10 / yr $20K
Lightning Very Low 21.03 / yr $10K
Hail Very Low 0.15 / yr $1K
Tornado Very Low 0.02 / yr $197
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Cold Wave Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Drought Very Low 79.81 / yr $0
Hurricane 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 Alpine County?

Alpine County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Alpine County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Avalanche (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL), Landslide (Low, $4K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Alpine County compare to other California counties?

Alpine County ranks #58 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Alpine County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.