riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Colusa County Disaster Risk

Colusa County, California

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

81th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#48

of 58 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

38th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 89% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Colusa County

Risk Verdict

Colusa County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 81th 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

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Colusa County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 89th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (38th), tornado (9th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Colusa County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as wildfire 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

Colusa County is notably safer than the average county in California. Its composite risk score is 7.6 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Colusa County, CA?
Colusa County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 81th 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 Colusa County?
Colusa County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (91th percentile), wildfire (89th percentile), flooding (38th percentile), tornado (9th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 91th 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 Colusa County risk compare to the California average?
Colusa County's composite risk percentile is 81th, compared to the California state average of 89th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Colusa County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in California.
Is Colusa County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Colusa County's earthquake risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Colusa County is at the 38th 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.
Is Colusa County a safe place to live?
Colusa County's composite risk score of 81th percentile is below the California state average of 89th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 91th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Yuba County

California

-0.3

Relatively Low

81th percentile

Trinity County

California

-1.7

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Inyo County

California

-1.8

Relatively Low

79th 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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