riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Kern County Disaster Risk

Kern County, California

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively High

National Percentile

99th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#15

of 58 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

98th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively High

Higher than 98% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very High

Higher than 100% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 99% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Kern County

Risk Verdict

Kern County carries a relatively high overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 99th percentile nationally. This places it among the most at-risk counties in the United States. Residents should prioritize comprehensive emergency preparedness, including reviewing insurance coverage and having an evacuation plan.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Kern County, scoring in the 100th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 99th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (98th), tornado (20th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Kern 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 earthquake 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

Kern County is significantly riskier than the average county in California. Its composite risk score is 10.2 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Kern County, CA?
Kern County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively High, placing it in the 99th 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 Kern County?
Kern County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (100th percentile), earthquake (99th percentile), flooding (98th percentile), tornado (20th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 100th 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 Kern County risk compare to the California average?
Kern County's composite risk percentile is 99th, compared to the California state average of 89th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Kern County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in California.
Is Kern County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Kern County's wildfire risk is at the 100th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Kern County is at the 98th 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 Kern County higher risk than average?
Kern County's composite risk score of 99th percentile is above the California state average of 89th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (100th percentile), along with earthquake and 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

Santa Barbara County

California

+0.1

Relatively High

99th percentile

Monterey County

California

-0.2

Relatively High

99th percentile

Sonoma County

California

+0.2

Relatively High

99th 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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