San Bernardino County

California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very High

Composite Risk Score

99.8

National percentile: 100th

San Bernardino County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.8, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2.08B.

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

Expected Annual Loss $2.08B Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 2.18M Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Very High $18M/yr
Wildfire
Very High $146M/yr
Earthquake
Very High $922M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Very High 27.53 / yr $18M
Wildfire Very High 0.01 / yr $146M
Earthquake Very High 0.11 / yr $922M
Riverine Flood Very High 12.96 / yr $960M
Heat Wave High 11.61 / yr $18M
Strong Wind High 0.18 / yr $4M
Lightning High 16.79 / yr $2M
Hail Medium 0.07 / yr $2M
Tornado Medium 0.76 / yr $4M
Avalanche Low 0.07 / yr $144K
Winter Weather Low 2.11 / yr $62K
Drought Low 78.40 / yr $37K
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $3
Cold Wave Low 0.01 / yr $392K
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 San Bernardino County?

San Bernardino County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very High category and the 100th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in San Bernardino County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Very High, $18M EAL), Wildfire (Very High, $146M EAL), Earthquake (Very High, $922M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does San Bernardino County compare to other California counties?

San Bernardino County ranks #5 of 58 California counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. San Bernardino County's $2.08B EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.