Cochise County

Arizona — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

92.8

National percentile: 93th

Cochise County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 92.8, 93th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $91M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $91M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 125K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Wildfire
High $19M/yr
Heat Wave
High $22M/yr
Lightning
Very High $2M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Wildfire High 0.01 / yr $19M
Heat Wave High 2.44 / yr $22M
Lightning Very High 56.22 / yr $2M
Riverine Flood High 6.21 / yr $44M
Drought Medium 76.45 / yr $1M
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $1M
Strong Wind Medium 0.58 / yr $682K
Landslide Very Low 1.38 / yr $1K
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $557
Hurricane Very Low 0.03 / yr $14K
Winter Weather Very Low 4.31 / yr $13K
Hail Very Low 0.27 / yr $37K
Tornado Very Low 0.16 / yr $50K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.01 / yr $11K
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Ice Storm Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami 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 Cochise County?

Cochise County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 93th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Cochise County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $19M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $22M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Cochise County compare to other Arizona counties?

Cochise County ranks #7 of 15 Arizona counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Cochise County's $91M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.