Tulare County
California — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Tulare County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.0, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and riverine flood 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
| Heat Wave | High | 5.42 / yr | $30M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.04 / yr | $130M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.00 / yr | $10M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.06 / yr | $36M |
| Landslide | High | 70.09 / yr | $433K |
| Lightning | High | 15.72 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 0.13 / yr | $2M |
| Avalanche | High | 0.10 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 83.25 / yr | $1M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $108 |
| Tornado | Low | 0.30 / yr | $427K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.04 / yr | $209K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 13.19 / yr | $18K |
| 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 Tulare County?
Tulare County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.0 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Tulare County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (High, $30M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $130M EAL), Wildfire (High, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Tulare County compare to other California counties?
Tulare County ranks #21 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. Tulare County's $214M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.