Lake County

California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

93.0

National percentile: 93th

Lake County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.0, 93th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $101M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $101M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 68K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Wildfire
High $20M/yr
Landslide
High $872K/yr
Earthquake
Medium $24M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Wildfire High 0.02 / yr $20M
Landslide High 93.97 / yr $872K
Earthquake Medium 0.09 / yr $24M
Volcanic Activity Medium 0.00 / yr $484K
Drought High 59.84 / yr $2M
Riverine Flood High 0.50 / yr $51M
Avalanche High 0.13 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Low 6.75 / yr $329K
Winter Weather Low 8.75 / yr $20K
Lightning Very Low 5.39 / yr $59K
Tornado Very Low 0.10 / yr $60K
Hail Very Low 0.04 / yr $5K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.01 / yr $6K
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Cold Wave Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Hurricane 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 Lake County?

Lake County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.0 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 Lake County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $20M EAL), Landslide (High, $872K EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $24M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Lake County compare to other California counties?

Lake County ranks #35 of 58 California 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. Lake County's $101M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.