Rhode Island earthquake risk
Providence County has the highest earthquake risk in Rhode Island, scoring 89.4 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence County | 89.4 | Relatively Low |
| 2 | Kent County | 75.3 | Relatively Low |
| 3 | Washington County | 67.3 | Relatively Low |
| 4 | Newport County | 57.3 | Very Low |
| 5 | Bristol County | 51 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Earthquake risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Rhode Island:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest earthquake risk county in Rhode Island?
Providence County, RI has the highest earthquake risk in Rhode Island, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.4 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes earthquake risk in Rhode Island?
Earthquake risk reflects expected annual losses from ground shaking. High scores concentrate in California, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the New Madrid Seismic Zone (spanning Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and neighboring states). NOAA's Storm Events Database does not track earthquakes, so recorded event counts are not shown.