Riverside County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 100th
Riverside County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.9, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2.27B.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Very High | 0.02 / yr | $347M |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 7.36 / yr | $1.13B |
| Earthquake | Very High | 0.12 / yr | $764M |
| Landslide | High | 21.78 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | High | 13.84 / yr | $18M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.45 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | Medium | 13.81 / yr | $797K |
| Hail | Medium | 0.08 / yr | $990K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $72 |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.40 / yr | $119K |
| Drought | Low | 57.40 / yr | $221K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $614K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $652 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $139K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Coastal Flood | 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 Riverside County?
Riverside County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.9 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 Riverside County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Very High, $347M EAL), Riverine Flood (Very High, $1.13B EAL), Earthquake (Very High, $764M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Riverside County compare to other California counties?
Riverside County ranks #2 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. Riverside County's $2.27B EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.