Riskiest Counties for Earthquake

Ranked by FEMA National Risk Index earthquake hazard score · code ERQK

Earthquake risk reflects ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults. FEMA's National Risk Index scores each county's earthquake hazard from its expected annual loss, annualized event frequency, and exposed population. Los Angeles County, California currently leads the nation with a earthquake score of 100.0 and $4.57B in expected annual loss. California, Washington, Utah account for much of the highest-rated earthquake risk in this dataset.

Read the full earthquake risk guide — how FEMA scores it and how to prepare →

County Rankings

#CountyStateEarthquake ScoreRatingAnn. Freq.Ann. Loss
1Los Angeles CountyCA
100.0
Very High 0.09 / yr$4.57B
2Alameda CountyCA
100.0
Very High 0.14 / yr$1.35B
3Orange CountyCA
99.9
Very High 0.10 / yr$1.02B
4Santa Clara CountyCA
99.9
Very High 0.18 / yr$1.19B
5King CountyWA
99.9
Very High 0.05 / yr$1.21B
6Riverside CountyCA
99.8
Very High 0.12 / yr$764M
7San Bernardino CountyCA
99.8
Very High 0.11 / yr$922M
8San Francisco CountyCA
99.8
Very High 0.10 / yr$662M
9San Diego CountyCA
99.7
High 0.11 / yr$426M
10Contra Costa CountyCA
99.7
High 0.13 / yr$519M
11Ventura CountyCA
99.7
High 0.08 / yr$392M
12San Mateo CountyCA
99.7
High 0.14 / yr$497M
13Salt Lake CountyUT
99.6
High 0.02 / yr$488M
14Multnomah CountyOR
99.6
High 0.02 / yr$326M
15Pierce CountyWA
99.6
High 0.04 / yr$364M
16Shelby CountyTN
99.5
High 0.01 / yr$215M
17Sonoma CountyCA
99.5
High 0.12 / yr$284M
18Anchorage MunicipalityAK
99.5
High 0.16 / yr$353M
19Santa Barbara CountyCA
99.4
High 0.05 / yr$168M
20Kern CountyCA
99.4
High 0.08 / yr$184M
21Monterey CountyCA
99.4
High 0.16 / yr$182M
22San Joaquin CountyCA
99.3
High 0.11 / yr$184M
23Snohomish CountyWA
99.3
High 0.04 / yr$247M
24Santa Cruz CountyCA
99.3
High 0.16 / yr$190M
25Fresno CountyCA
99.2
High 0.11 / yr$136M

Showing the top 25 seeded counties for earthquake risk.

Earthquake Risk by State

DelawareNew JerseyCaliforniaConnecticutArizonaMassachusettsFloridaHawaiiSouth CarolinaWashingtonNew HampshireNew YorkPennsylvaniaNorth CarolinaOregonLouisianaAlabamaMarylandWisconsinNew MexicoMaineRhode IslandOklahomaArkansasOhioIllinoisTennesseeMississippiMissouriMichiganWest VirginiaTexasNevadaIndianaKentuckyMinnesotaColoradoIowaGeorgiaIdahoWyomingVermontUtahAlaskaVirginiaMontanaKansasSouth DakotaNebraskaNorth Dakota