Los Angeles County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 100th
Los Angeles County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 100.0, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7.60B.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Very High | 0.09 / yr | $4.57B |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 3.96 / yr | $2.81B |
| Wildfire | Very High | 0.01 / yr | $155M |
| Heat Wave | High | 9.45 / yr | $37M |
| Landslide | High | 78.63 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.49 / yr | $18M |
| Lightning | Very High | 8.36 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $2M |
| Avalanche | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 2.17 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $971K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 6.59 / yr | $142K |
| Tsunami | Low | 0.39 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Low | 81.77 / yr | $80K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $24K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Los Angeles County?
Los Angeles County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 100.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very High category and the 100th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Los Angeles County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Very High, $4.57B EAL), Riverine Flood (Very High, $2.81B EAL), Wildfire (Very High, $155M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Los Angeles County compare to other California counties?
Los Angeles County ranks #1 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very high 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. Los Angeles County's $7.60B EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.