Sacramento County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Sacramento County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.1, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $352M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 62.96 / yr | $14M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.93 / yr | $216M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.12 / yr | $108M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.97 / yr | $8M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Low | 4.11 / yr | $15K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $377 |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.12 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 8.11 / yr | $385K |
| Hail | Low | 0.07 / yr | $314K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $56K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $5K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sacramento County?
Sacramento County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.1 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sacramento County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $14M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $216M EAL), Earthquake (High, $108M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sacramento County compare to other California counties?
Sacramento County ranks #18 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Sacramento County's $352M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.