Stanislaus County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Stanislaus County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.9, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $265M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Very High | 73.59 / yr | $71M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.07 / yr | $85M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 7.18 / yr | $8M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.57 / yr | $94M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 6.95 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 18.22 / yr | $39K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $316 |
| Hail | Low | 0.09 / yr | $298K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.22 / yr | $41K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.04 / yr | $286K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.18 / yr | $462K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3 |
| 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 Stanislaus County?
Stanislaus County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.9 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Stanislaus County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Very High, $71M EAL), Earthquake (High, $85M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $8M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Stanislaus County compare to other California counties?
Stanislaus County ranks #23 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. Stanislaus County's $265M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.