riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Santa Cruz County Disaster Risk

Santa Cruz County, Arizona

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

88th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#10

of 15 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

87th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 98% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 17% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Santa Cruz County

Risk Verdict

Santa Cruz County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Santa Cruz County, scoring in the 98th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 87th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (43th), hurricane (17th), tornado (9th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Santa Cruz County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Santa Cruz County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Arizona. Its composite risk score is within 3.9 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Arizona as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Santa Cruz County, AZ?
Santa Cruz County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 88th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (98th percentile), flooding (87th percentile), earthquake (43th percentile), hurricane (17th percentile), tornado (9th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 98th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Santa Cruz County risk compare to the Arizona average?
Santa Cruz County's composite risk percentile is 88th, compared to the Arizona state average of 85th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Santa Cruz County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arizona.
Is Santa Cruz County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Santa Cruz County's wildfire risk is at the 98th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Santa Cruz County is at the 87th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Santa Cruz County higher risk than average?
Santa Cruz County's composite risk score of 88th percentile is above the Arizona state average of 85th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (98th percentile), along with flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Navajo County

Arizona

-0.3

Relatively Moderate

88th percentile

Gila County

Arizona

+1.8

Relatively Moderate

90th percentile

Yuma County

Arizona

+4.2

Relatively Moderate

93th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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