Sierra County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 32th
Sierra County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 31.5, 32th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.02 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Medium | 3.01 / yr | $97K |
| Lightning | Medium | 15.88 / yr | $538K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.04 / yr | $552K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $303 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.14 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Low | 70.94 / yr | $37K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 36.59 / yr | $29K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.28 / yr | $9K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $6K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $10K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $4K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sierra County?
Sierra County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 31.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 32th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sierra County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $3M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $97K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $538K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sierra County compare to other California counties?
Sierra County ranks #57 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Sierra County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.