San Luis Obispo County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
San Luis Obispo County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.9, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $214M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Very High | 89.59 / yr | $29M |
| Landslide | High | 128.71 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $17M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $50M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.64 / yr | $110M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.54 / yr | $2M |
| Tsunami | Low | 0.38 / yr | $3M |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.10 / yr | $136K |
| Lightning | Low | 3.22 / yr | $96K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $48K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $29K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $36K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.05 / 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 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for San Luis Obispo County?
San Luis Obispo County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.9 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in San Luis Obispo County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Very High, $29M EAL), Landslide (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (High, $17M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does San Luis Obispo County compare to other California counties?
San Luis Obispo County ranks #28 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. San Luis Obispo County's $214M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.