riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Mono County Disaster Risk

Mono County, California

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

47th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#55

of 58 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

47th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% 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 89% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Mono County

Risk Verdict

Mono County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 47th 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 Mono County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 89th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (47th), tornado (3th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Mono 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

Mono County is notably safer than the average county in California. Its composite risk score is 42.2 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 Mono County, CA?
Mono County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 47th 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 Mono County?
Mono County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (91th percentile), earthquake (89th percentile), flooding (47th percentile), tornado (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire 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 Mono County risk compare to the California average?
Mono County's composite risk percentile is 47th, compared to the California state average of 89th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Mono County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in California.
Is Mono County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Mono County's wildfire risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Mono County is at the 47th 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 Mono County a safe place to live?
Mono County's composite risk score of 47th 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 91th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Modoc County

California

-6.8

Very Low

40th percentile

Sierra County

California

-15.0

Very Low

32th percentile

Lassen County

California

+26.6

Relatively Low

73th 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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