riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lassen County Disaster Risk

Lassen County, California

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

73th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#54

of 58 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

74th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 97% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lassen County

Risk Verdict

Lassen County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 73th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Lassen County, scoring in the 97th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 90th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (74th), tornado (3th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Lassen 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

Lassen County is notably safer than the average county in California. Its composite risk score is 15.6 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 Lassen County, CA?
Lassen County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 73th 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 Lassen County?
Lassen County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (97th percentile), earthquake (90th percentile), flooding (74th percentile), tornado (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 97th 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 Lassen County risk compare to the California average?
Lassen County's composite risk percentile is 73th, compared to the California state average of 89th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Lassen County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in California.
Is Lassen County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Lassen County's wildfire risk is at the 97th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Lassen County is at the 74th 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 Lassen County a safe place to live?
Lassen County's composite risk score of 73th 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 wildfire at the 97th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Glenn County

California

+1.3

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Amador County

California

+6.1

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Inyo County

California

+6.2

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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