Sacramento County, California Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CA
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
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sacramento County at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 98.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 98th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Sacramento County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $14M in expected annual loss and about 62.96 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $216M in expected annual loss and about 1.93 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at High risk — $108M in expected annual loss and about 0.12 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $352M in expected annual loss for a population of 1.58M.
Beyond physical exposure, Sacramento County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Sacramento County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1964, including 9 for flood events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (severe storm), declared in April 2023.
Among 58 California counties, Sacramento County ranks #18 for overall natural disaster risk.
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 |
Disaster History
Sacramento County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1964, most recently Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (9), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| March 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| February 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| February 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
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.
How many federally declared disasters has Sacramento County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Sacramento County since 1964, most often 9 for flood events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared in April 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. Sacramento County's $352M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.