US Natural Disaster Risk Insights

National analysis of natural disaster risk across all 3,144 US counties. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

National Avg Risk

50.0

Highest Risk State

District of Columbia

Counties Analyzed

3,144

Key Findings

Natural disaster risk varies dramatically across the United States. District of Columbia has the highest average composite risk score at 97.6, while North Dakota has the lowest at 22.2. The national average risk score is 50.0 across 3,144 counties with data.

Flood and hurricane risks dominate the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, while wildfire risk is concentrated in the Western states. Tornado risk is highest in the Great Plains and Southeast, and earthquake risk is concentrated along the Pacific coast and intermountain West.

State Risk Score Rankings

Average composite risk score by state, computed from all counties with data. Higher scores indicate greater risk.

Highest Risk States

Lowest Risk States

National Risk Score Distribution

How counties are distributed across composite risk score ranges.

Flood Risk vs. Wildfire Risk

Each point is a US county. Bubble size represents the composite risk score. Counties in the upper-right face elevated risk from both hazards.

< 50 composite50–70 composite> 70 composite

Average Risk by Hazard Type

Nationwide average risk scores for each hazard type across all counties with data.