Kent County
Rhode Island — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 69th
Kent County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 69.4, 69th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $32M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.39 / yr | $23M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.90 / yr | $233K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.51 / yr | $870K |
| Lightning | Medium | 21.71 / yr | $471K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.76 / yr | $533K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.69 / yr | $87K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.20 / yr | $574K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $830 |
| Tornado | Low | 0.04 / yr | $931K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.03 / yr | $721K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.42 / yr | $11K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.77 / yr | $9K |
| 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 Kent County?
Kent County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 69.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 69th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Kent County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $23M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Kent County compare to other Rhode Island counties?
Kent County ranks #2 of 5 Rhode Island counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Kent County's $32M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.