Butte County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Butte County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.9, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $127M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Very High | 66.57 / yr | $26M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.00 / yr | $16M |
| Landslide | Medium | 20.96 / yr | $388K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.04 / yr | $34M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.36 / yr | $48M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.93 / yr | $1M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $392 |
| Lightning | Medium | 11.89 / yr | $400K |
| Hail | Low | 0.11 / yr | $121K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.15 / yr | $389K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $76 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 10.95 / yr | $21K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $81K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / 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 Butte County?
Butte County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Butte County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Very High, $26M EAL), Wildfire (High, $16M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $388K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Butte County compare to other California counties?
Butte County ranks #32 of 58 California 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. Butte County's $127M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.