FEMA National Risk Index
Natural Disaster Risk by County
Flood, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, and hurricane risk scores for every US county. Powered by FEMA data.
Tap a hazard to spotlight the riskiest counties.
Find your county's risk
How RiskByCounty Works
Find, compare, and understand natural disaster risk across America
Step 1
Find your county
Search by name or browse by state to access FEMA risk scores for any of 3,100+ US counties.
Step 2
Compare risk scores
Side-by-side comparison of flood, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, and hurricane risk across counties.
Step 3
Explore hazard data
Dive into individual hazard breakdowns with percentile rankings and FEMA risk ratings for every county.
Step 4
Read risk guides
Data-driven articles on natural disaster risk, FEMA NRI methodology, and preparedness strategies.
Polk County
Iowa
Composite Risk Score
92.0
out of 100
Risk Rating
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
92.0
Top Hazard
Tornado
2nd Hazard
Flood
Polk County faces the nation's significant hazard exposure
At 91.98, Polk County's composite risk score ranks among America's highest for disaster exposure, earning a Relatively Moderate rating well above the national average. This reflects concerning levels across multiple hazard types, particularly tornadoes and flooding.
Interactive Risk Tools
Explore, compare, and analyze natural disaster risk data across all 3,100+ US counties.
Risk Articles
Data-driven articles on natural disaster risk, FEMA NRI methodology, and preparedness strategies.
Browse ArticlesHazard Breakdown
Five major hazard categories — flood, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, and hurricane — scored for every county.
Explore by StateCounty Rankings
Highest and lowest risk counties nationwide, ranked by FEMA composite risk scores.
View RankingsRisk Guides & Analysis
Data-driven articles on natural disaster risk and preparedness across America.
Article
Understanding Natural Disaster Risk by County
A data-driven analysis of natural disaster risk across all 3,100+ US counties using FEMA National Risk Index data. See which counties face the highest and lowest risk from floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
Article
FEMA's National Risk Index: What It Means for Your County
A complete guide to understanding FEMA's National Risk Index — how risk scores are calculated, what the 18 hazard types mean, and how to use NRI data for insurance, home buying, and emergency preparedness.
Article
How to Prepare for Natural Disasters Based on Your County's Risk Profile
Practical preparedness guide for flood, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, and hurricane risk — customized to your county's FEMA risk scores. Insurance tips, evacuation planning, and emergency kit essentials.
What We Track
Five major natural hazard categories scored for every US county.
Flood
River, coastal & surface flooding
Wildfire
Wildland & interface fire risk
Tornado
Tornado & severe storm risk
Earthquake
Seismic & ground shaking risk
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone risk
Browse by State
Select a state to view natural disaster risk scores for every county.
Alabama
67 counties
Alaska
30 counties
Arizona
15 counties
Arkansas
75 counties
California
58 counties
Colorado
64 counties
Connecticut
9 counties
Delaware
3 counties
District of Columbia
1 county
Florida
67 counties
Georgia
159 counties
Hawaii
5 counties
Idaho
44 counties
Illinois
102 counties
Indiana
92 counties
Iowa
99 counties
Kansas
105 counties
Kentucky
120 counties
Louisiana
64 counties
Maine
16 counties
Maryland
24 counties
Massachusetts
14 counties
Michigan
83 counties
Minnesota
87 counties
Mississippi
82 counties
Missouri
115 counties
Montana
56 counties
Nebraska
93 counties
Nevada
17 counties
New Hampshire
10 counties
New Jersey
21 counties
New Mexico
33 counties
New York
62 counties
North Carolina
100 counties
North Dakota
53 counties
Ohio
88 counties
Oklahoma
77 counties
Oregon
36 counties
Pennsylvania
67 counties
Rhode Island
5 counties
South Carolina
46 counties
South Dakota
66 counties
Tennessee
95 counties
Texas
254 counties
Utah
29 counties
Vermont
14 counties
Virginia
133 counties
Washington
39 counties
West Virginia
55 counties
Wisconsin
72 counties
Wyoming
23 counties
Highest Risk Counties
Counties with the highest composite natural disaster risk scores.
Los Angeles County
California
Cook County
Illinois
Harris County
Texas
Riverside County
California
Maricopa County
Arizona
San Bernardino County
California
Orange County
California
Alameda County
California
Understanding Risk Scores
FEMA Scores
FEMA's National Risk Index scores every county 0–100 for each hazard type.
Relative Risk
Scores compare counties to each other — higher = relatively more at-risk nationally.
Plan Ahead
Use data to understand your county's risk profile and make informed decisions.