Mendocino County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Mendocino County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.3, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $117M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 94.88 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.07 / yr | $47M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.00 / yr | $8M |
| Drought | High | 41.14 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.75 / yr | $56M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $199 |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.23 / yr | $196K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.06 / yr | $312K |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $264K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $90 |
| Lightning | Low | 5.32 / yr | $79K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 6.77 / yr | $15K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $54K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $17K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Mendocino County?
Mendocino County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.3 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Mendocino County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (High, $47M EAL), Wildfire (High, $8M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Mendocino County compare to other California counties?
Mendocino County ranks #31 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. Mendocino County's $117M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.