Bristol County
Rhode Island — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 19th
Bristol County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.4, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.20 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.76 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 21.20 / yr | $498K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $384K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.71 / yr | $6M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.44 / yr | $161K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $24K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 9.94 / yr | $22K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.91 / yr | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.70 / yr | $156K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.83 / yr | $164K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $141K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.06 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | 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 Bristol County?
Bristol County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 19th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bristol County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Coastal Flood (Medium, $1M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $498K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bristol County compare to other Rhode Island counties?
Bristol County ranks #5 of 5 Rhode Island 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. Bristol County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.