Landslide risk by county
Soil and rock sliding downhill, often after heavy rain or wildfire. Home insurance usually excludes it.
Highest expected losses
| # | County | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara County, CA | $51M | |
| 2 | Snohomish County, WA | $25M | |
| 3 | San Bernardino County, CA | $18M | |
| 4 | Island County, WA | $6M | |
| 5 | Alameda County, CA | $6M | |
| 6 | Sonoma County, CA | $5M | |
| 7 | Santa Clara County, CA | $5M | |
| 8 | Monterey County, CA | $5M | |
| 9 | San Mateo County, CA | $4M | |
| 10 | Orange County, CA | $4M | |
| 11 | Honolulu County, HI | $4M | |
| 12 | Macon County, NC | $3M | |
| 13 | San Diego County, CA | $3M | |
| 14 | Petersburg Borough, AK | $3M | |
| 15 | Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | $3M |
Big counties lead this list partly because they have more people and buildings at risk.
Highest per resident
| # | County (100,000+ people) | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara County, CA | $115 |
| 2 | Snohomish County, WA | $30 |
| 3 | Humboldt County, CA | $17 |
| 4 | Mesa County, CO | $14 |
| 5 | Monterey County, CA | $11 |
| 6 | Sonoma County, CA | $10 |
| 7 | San Luis Obispo County, CA | $8 |
| 8 | San Bernardino County, CA | $8 |
| 9 | Napa County, CA | $8 |
| 10 | Santa Cruz County, CA | $8 |
Expected yearly loss divided by population. A fairer way to compare places of different size.
Lowest risk among large counties
| # | County (250,000+ people) | Rating | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinellas County, FL | under $1 | |
| 2 | New York County, NY | under $1 | |
| 3 | St. Lucie County, FL | under $1 | |
| 4 | Fayette County, KY | under $1 | |
| 5 | Kings County, NY | under $1 | |
| 6 | Hudson County, NJ | under $1 | |
| 7 | Orleans Parish, LA | under $1 | |
| 8 | Virginia Beach City, VA | under $1 | |
| 9 | Rutherford County, TN | under $1 | |
| 10 | Seminole County, FL | under $1 |
How ratings are spread
The lists above show only the top counties, so they are all rated high. Across all 3,144 rated counties, most are Low or Very Low:
How to prepare
- Look for cracks, tilting trees or fences on slopes nearby.
- Ask the county about past slides on the street.
- Watch drainage after heavy rain.
States where it is most often the top hazard
Common questions
Which US county has the highest landslide risk?
Santa Barbara County, CA has the highest expected yearly landslide losses in FEMA's National Risk Index, about $51.4 million a year. Snohomish County, WA is second at $24.7 million.
How many counties face landslide risk?
FEMA rates landslide in 3,144 of 3,144 counties in the 50 states and DC. 3 are rated Very High and 65 Relatively High.
Is landslide covered by home insurance?
Usually not. Most home policies exclude earth movement.
Other hazards
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). Expected annual loss is FEMA's long-run estimate of yearly damage to buildings, people and farm output, in dollars.