Shasta County, CA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Shasta County has experienced 41 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Shasta County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, earthquake, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 48% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (76th 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. Shasta County has been designated in 41 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including fire (22), severe storm (7), flood (7).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2021 | Fire | Fawn Fire |
| 2020 | Fire | Zogg Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2018 | Fire | Wildfires And High Winds |
| 2018 | Fire | Wildfire |
| 2018 | Fire | Creek Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 41 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 High | 99.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 94.8 | 64 | 1 | $7.3M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 96.5 | 72 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 15.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 17 | 8 | 0 | $8K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 66.8 | 2 | 0 | $15K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 76.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 92.4 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 40.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Moderate | 94.8 | — | — | — |
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
Shasta County ranks in the 76th 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 | 76th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 61st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 83rd | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 57th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 79th | 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 | 99th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 99th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 53.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 72 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 29 in 2016–20 vs 43 in 2021–25 (+48% — frequency increasing).
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 Shasta County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Shasta County, California are wildfire, earthquake, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Shasta County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Shasta County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is fire (22 declarations).
Has Shasta County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Shasta County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides in 2023.
How does Shasta County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Butte County, CA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Lassen County, CA has the lowest (Relatively Low). Shasta County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Shasta County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Shasta 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. Shasta County's composite score of 93 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 93% of US counties.