Ventura County

California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

High

Composite Risk Score

99.4

National percentile: 99th

Ventura County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.4, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $762M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $762M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 843K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Wildfire
High $50M/yr
Earthquake
High $392M/yr
Riverine Flood
Very High $313M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Wildfire High 0.01 / yr $50M
Earthquake High 0.08 / yr $392M
Riverine Flood Very High 1.93 / yr $313M
Landslide High 64.12 / yr $651K
Heat Wave Medium 9.80 / yr $2M
Drought Medium 93.89 / yr $994K
Lightning Medium 6.17 / yr $536K
Coastal Flood Medium 1.96 / yr $599K
Hail Low 0.07 / yr $302K
Tsunami Very Low 0.39 / yr $790K
Strong Wind Low 0.07 / yr $493K
Tornado Low 0.13 / yr $1M
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $150
Cold Wave Very Low 0.05 / yr $63K
Winter Weather Very Low 9.38 / yr $276
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 Ventura County?

Ventura County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.4 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 99th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Ventura County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $50M EAL), Earthquake (High, $392M EAL), Riverine Flood (Very High, $313M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Ventura County compare to other California counties?

Ventura County ranks #10 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. Ventura County's $762M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.