Ventura County, California Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CA
HighComposite Risk Score
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
Risk Overview
Ventura County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 99.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 99th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $50M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at High risk — $392M in expected annual loss and about 0.08 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Very High risk — $313M in expected annual loss and about 1.93 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $762M in expected annual loss for a population of 843K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ventura County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low 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 federal record bears this out: Ventura County has received 53 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 28 for fire events and 10 for flood events. The most recent was Sandy Fire (fire), declared in May 2026.
Among 58 California counties, Ventura County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
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 |
Disaster History
Ventura County has received 53 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Sandy Fire in May 2026. Most frequent causes: Fire (28), Flood (10), Severe Storm (7).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Fire | Sandy Fire |
| November 2024 | Fire | Mountain Fire |
| April 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| November 2019 | Fire | Maria Fire |
| October 2019 | Fire | Easy Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 53 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
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.
How many federally declared disasters has Ventura County had?
FEMA records 53 federal disaster declarations for Ventura County since 1965, most often 28 for fire events and 10 for flood events. The most recent was Sandy Fire, declared in May 2026.
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.