Modoc County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 40th
Modoc County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 39.7, 40th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 97.66 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $821 |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.02 / yr | $583K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.46 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 16.64 / yr | $29K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.86 / yr | $314 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $89 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.30 / yr | $106K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 14.49 / yr | $26K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $56K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $6K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $4K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $572 |
| Coastal Flood | 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 Modoc County?
Modoc County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 39.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 40th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Modoc County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $3M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Volcanic Activity (Very Low, $821 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Modoc County compare to other California counties?
Modoc County ranks #56 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Modoc County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.