Plumas County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Plumas County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 86.4, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $41M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $13M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.04 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Medium | 6.93 / yr | $34K |
| Volcanic Activity | Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.46 / yr | $22M |
| Lightning | Medium | 14.47 / yr | $494K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 34.93 / yr | $73K |
| Drought | Low | 63.03 / yr | $162K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $216 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.47 / yr | $76K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $27K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $42K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $29K |
| 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 Plumas County?
Plumas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 86.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Plumas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $13M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $5M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $34K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Plumas County compare to other California counties?
Plumas County ranks #44 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. Plumas County's $41M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.