Santa Cruz County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Santa Cruz County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.8, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $335M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 38.24 / yr | $18M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.16 / yr | $190M |
| Landslide | High | 6.50 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $9M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.61 / yr | $105M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.37 / yr | $3M |
| Tsunami | Medium | 0.39 / yr | $8M |
| Lightning | Medium | 4.17 / yr | $353K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.10 / yr | $117K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $149K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.00 / yr | $35K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $235K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $53K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.8 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 Santa Cruz County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $18M EAL), Earthquake (High, $190M EAL), Landslide (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Santa Cruz County compare to other California counties?
Santa Cruz County ranks #19 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. Santa Cruz County's $335M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.