Lassen County, CA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lassen County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Wildfires in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Lassen County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, earthquake, and volcanic activity, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Lassen County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including fire (5), flood (5), severe storm (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2021 | Fire | Dixie Fire |
| 2020 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020 | Fire | Sheep Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2014 | Fire | Bald Fire |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 97.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 74.4 | 8 | 0 | $500K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 89.7 | 8 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 24.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 3.2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 6.3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 5.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 82.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 33.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 83.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51 | 3 | 0 | $15K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 26.3 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Low | 87 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Lassen County ranks in the 82nd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 86th | High |
| Household characteristics | 37th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 75th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 88th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 97th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 97th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 62.9% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Lassen County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lassen County, California are wildfire, earthquake, and volcanic activity. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Lassen County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lassen County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Lassen County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Lassen County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Wildfires in 2021.
How does Lassen County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Washoe County, NV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Sierra County, CA has the lowest (Very Low). Lassen County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Lassen County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lassen County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Lassen County's composite score of 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.