Natural disaster risk in Rhode Island, by county
All 5 counties in Rhode Island, ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index composite risk score, with each one's highest-rated hazard. Other states
At a glance
Highest overall risk: Providence County (relatively moderate, score 93.7). Lowest: Bristol County (very low, score 19.4).
Top hazards in Rhode Island
| Hazard | Counties rated relatively high or very high | Average score |
|---|---|---|
| Inland (riverine) flooding | 1 of 5 | 68.0 |
| Lightning | 1 of 5 | 66.2 |
| Ice storm | 1 of 5 | 55.2 |
| Heat wave | 1 of 5 | 54.0 |
| Cold wave | 1 of 5 | 36.6 |
All counties, highest risk first
| # | County | Overall risk | Highest-rated hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence County | Relatively moderate 93.7 | Heat wave (relatively high) |
| 2 | Kent County | Relatively low 69.4 | Hurricane (relatively moderate) |
| 3 | Washington County | Relatively low 64 | Hurricane (relatively moderate) |
| 4 | Newport County | Very low 36.4 | Coastal flooding (relatively moderate) |
| 5 | Bristol County | Very low 19.4 | Coastal flooding (relatively moderate) |
How to read these ratings
- Ratings run in five steps: very low, relatively low, relatively moderate, relatively high and very high. They compare a county with every other US county; they are not a measure of danger on their own.
- Scores run from 0 to 100 and are national percentiles. The bar shows the score: a score of 80 means a higher value than 80% of US counties.
- Overall risk combines the expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.
- Expected annual loss is the average yearly loss to buildings, people and agriculture the model expects from all 18 hazards.
- Social vulnerability describes how hard it may be for people to prepare for and recover from a disaster. Higher is worse.
- Community resilience describes a community's ability to prepare, adapt and recover. Higher is better.
- "Not applicable" means FEMA does not model that hazard there (for example, hurricanes far inland).
About this data
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, version 1.20, released December 2025, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (US public domain). About the National Risk Index. The index is a model of relative risk built from historical hazard records, what is exposed and community factors. It is not a forecast, it does not describe any single property, and it is not insurance or financial advice. For decisions about a specific address, check FEMA's flood maps and your local emergency management office.
Questions
Which county in Rhode Island has the highest natural disaster risk?
Providence County has the highest composite risk score in Rhode Island in FEMA's National Risk Index: 93.7, rated relatively moderate.
Which county in Rhode Island has the lowest natural disaster risk?
Bristol County has the lowest composite risk score in Rhode Island: 19.4, rated very low. A low score means lower modelled risk compared with other US counties, not no risk.
What natural disasters is Rhode Island most at risk from?
Across Rhode Island, the hazards rated highest in the most counties are inland (riverine) flooding, lightning, ice storm, according to FEMA's National Risk Index. Each county page lists all 18 hazards.
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