San Benito County, California Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 85th
San Benito County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.2, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $80M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
San Benito County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 85.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 85th 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.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $687K in expected annual loss and about 91.77 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $49M in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 104.22 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $80M in expected annual loss for a population of 64K.
Beyond physical exposure, San Benito County has a very 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: San Benito County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 6 for flood events and 5 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, San Benito County ranks #45 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 91.77 / yr | $687K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.19 / yr | $49M |
| Drought | High | 104.22 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $6M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.29 / yr | $18M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.22 / yr | $811K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 3.22 / yr | $61K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $96K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $8 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $11K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $9K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.54 / yr | $712 |
| 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 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
San Benito County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (6), Severe Storm (5), 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 |
| February 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 1998 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for San Benito County?
San Benito County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in San Benito County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $687K EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $49M EAL), Drought (High, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does San Benito County compare to other California counties?
San Benito County ranks #45 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has San Benito County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for San Benito County since 1969, most often 6 for flood events and 5 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. San Benito County's $80M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.