Placer County, California Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 93th
Placer County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.1, 93th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $163M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Placer County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 93.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 93rd national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $25M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Very High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.47 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $107M in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $163M in expected annual loss for a population of 405K.
Beyond physical exposure, Placer County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Placer County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1964, including 9 for fire events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (flood), declared in March 2023.
Among 58 California counties, Placer County ranks #34 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $25M |
| Avalanche | Very High | 0.47 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.11 / yr | $107M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $19M |
| Drought | Medium | 62.48 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 2.28 / yr | $40K |
| Lightning | High | 14.21 / yr | $983K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.30 / yr | $1M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $95 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 27.20 / yr | $73K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $118K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $387K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.07 / yr | $245K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Placer County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1964, most recently Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in March 2023. Most frequent causes: Fire (9), Flood (6), Severe Storm (6).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| January 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| January 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2022 | Fire | Mosquito Fire |
| September 2021 | Fire | Caldor Fire |
| August 2021 | Fire | Wildfires |
| August 2021 | Fire | River Fire |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| February 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Placer County?
Placer County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 93th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Placer County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $25M EAL), Avalanche (Very High, $7M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $107M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Placer County compare to other California counties?
Placer County ranks #34 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Placer County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Placer County since 1964, most often 9 for fire events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared in March 2023.
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. Placer County's $163M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.