Tulare County, CA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Tulare County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Tulare County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, inland flooding, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 212% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (91st 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. Tulare County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1967, covering 7 disaster types including flood (8), fire (4), severe storm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020 | Fire | Sqf Fire Complex |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Fire | Pier Fire |
| 2016 | Fire | Cedar Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1967.
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 | 98 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 98.1 | 189 | 3 | $8.3M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 97.9 | 66 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 99.2 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 30.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 92.5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 26.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 24.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | No Rating | 0 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 94.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 88.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively High | 97.9 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | 89.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 73.3 | — | — | — |
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
Tulare County ranks in the 91st 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 | 91st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 96th | High |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 97th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 57th | Moderate |
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 | 94th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 95th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 34.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 214 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 52 in 2016–20 vs 162 in 2021–25 (+212% — 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 Tulare County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Tulare County, California are heat wave, inland flooding, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Tulare County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Tulare County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is flood (8 declarations).
Has Tulare County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Tulare County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides in 2023.
How does Tulare County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Fresno County, CA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Inyo County, CA has the lowest (Relatively Low). Tulare County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Tulare County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Tulare 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. Tulare County's composite score of 97 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 97% of US counties.