riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Shasta County Disaster Risk

Shasta County, California

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

93th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#33

of 58 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

95th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 99% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 15% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 97% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Shasta County

Risk Verdict

Shasta County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 93th 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 Shasta County, scoring in the 99th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 97th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (95th), tornado (15th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Shasta 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

Shasta County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in California. Its composite risk score is within 4.7 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of California as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Shasta County, CA?
Shasta County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 93th 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 Shasta County?
Shasta County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (99th percentile), earthquake (97th percentile), flooding (95th percentile), tornado (15th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 99th 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 Shasta County risk compare to the California average?
Shasta County's composite risk percentile is 93th, compared to the California state average of 89th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Shasta County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in California.
Is Shasta County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Shasta County's wildfire risk is at the 99th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Shasta County is at the 95th 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 Shasta County higher risk than average?
Shasta County's composite risk score of 93th percentile is above the California state average of 89th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (99th 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

Placer County

California

-0.3

Relatively Moderate

93th percentile

Lake County

California

-0.4

Relatively Moderate

93th percentile

Butte County

California

+0.5

Relatively Moderate

94th 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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