Imperial County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Imperial County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.5, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $148M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | High | 0.15 / yr | $101M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.54 / yr | $43M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 16.90 / yr | $3M |
| Volcanic Activity | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $184K |
| Drought | Medium | 39.28 / yr | $321K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.28 / yr | $401K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 6.46 / yr | $459 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $5K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $46K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 11.27 / yr | $35K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $53K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Imperial County?
Imperial County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Imperial County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (High, $101M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $43M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Imperial County compare to other California counties?
Imperial County ranks #25 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. Imperial County's $148M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.