Drought Risk in Rhode Island

All Rhode Island counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score

Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 5 of 5 Rhode Island counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Washington County carries the state's highest drought score at 43.5, with $124K in expected annual drought losses.

No Rhode Island county reaches the High band for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $271K statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.

County Rankings — Drought

#CountyDrought ScoreRatingAnn. Freq.Ann. Loss
1 Washington County
43.5
Low 3.41 / yr $124K
2 Newport County
42.0
Low 3.57 / yr $98K
3 Providence County
34.9
Low 2.11 / yr $36K
4 Kent County
23.8
Very Low 2.42 / yr $11K
5 Bristol County
16.9
Very Low 2.91 / yr $2K

5 Rhode Island counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all Rhode Island counties by overall risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Rhode Island county has the highest drought risk?

Washington County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in Rhode Island at 43.5 (Low), with $124K in expected annual losses and about 3.41 events per year.

How many Rhode Island counties face significant drought risk?

5 Rhode Island counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.

Other Hazards in Rhode Island