Nevada County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 90th
Nevada County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 89.9, 90th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $81M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $32M |
| Landslide | Medium | 2.27 / yr | $148K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.86 / yr | $37M |
| Avalanche | High | 0.30 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 14.29 / yr | $492K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 28.31 / yr | $124K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23 |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.25 / yr | $517K |
| Hail | Low | 0.17 / yr | $246K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $194K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $108K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 59.51 / 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 Nevada County?
Nevada County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 90th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Nevada County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $32M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $148K EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Nevada County compare to other California counties?
Nevada County ranks #39 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. Nevada County's $81M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.