Lassen County, California Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 73th
Lassen County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 73.1, 73th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $25M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Lassen County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 73.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 73rd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.03 events per year; and volcanic activity (eruptions producing ashfall, lava, and pyroclastic hazards) at Low risk — $3K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $25M in expected annual loss for a population of 33K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lassen County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Lassen County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1964, including 5 for fire events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Wildfires (fire), declared in August 2021.
Among 58 California counties, Lassen County ranks #54 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $7M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.03 / yr | $4M |
| Volcanic Activity | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| Drought | Medium | 83.38 / yr | $924K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 25.89 / yr | $191K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.29 / yr | $13M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 2.52 / yr | $1K |
| Lightning | Low | 15.51 / yr | $101K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $60 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.80 / yr | $73K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $14K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $31K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $6K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | 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 |
Disaster History
Lassen County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1964, most recently Wildfires in August 2021. Most frequent causes: Fire (5), Flood (5), Severe Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| August 2021 | Fire | Wildfires |
| July 2021 | Fire | Dixie Fire |
| August 2020 | Fire | Sheep Fire |
| August 2020 | Fire | Wildfires |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| February 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| August 2014 | Fire | Bald Fire |
| February 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lassen County?
Lassen County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 73th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lassen County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $7M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $4M EAL), Volcanic Activity (Low, $3K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lassen County compare to other California counties?
Lassen County ranks #54 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lassen County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Lassen County since 1964, most often 5 for fire events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Wildfires, declared in August 2021.
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. Lassen County's $25M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.