FEMA rates relative earthquake risk for Los Angeles County as very high and reports modeled annual probability of 0.98% per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Los Angeles County reports modeled annual probability of 0.98% per year for earthquake. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Los Angeles County.
Earthquake
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
100.0/100
FEMA models earthquake annualized frequency as the probability of a qualifying occurrence in a given year across the FEMA geography shown.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Los Angeles County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
Local context
Long Beach identifies earthquake as its most probable major natural hazard because of nearby faults, but its coastal setting changes what residents need to consider. Strong shaking can be accompanied by liquefaction in susceptible soils, and the city’s nearly nine miles of coastline also make tsunami awareness relevant after a long or strong earthquake.
Long Beach inventories certain pre-1978, multi-unit wood-frame buildings with possible soft, weak, or open-front conditions. Renters and owners can check the city inventory, then confirm the building’s structural condition and retrofit records with qualified professionals.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Long Beach? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Long Beach. All FEMA figures on this page cover Los Angeles County.
The FEMA figures cover Los Angeles County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative earthquake risk for Los Angeles County as very high. Its modeled annual probability is 0.98% per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 111 California cities covered by this directory, Long Beach is Tied #1 for relative earthquake risk based on FEMA's score for Los Angeles County. 22 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within Long Beach can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Los Angeles County, the highest relative ratings are Earthquake (Very High), Wildfire (Very High), and Heat Wave (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Los Angeles County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Los Angeles County an overall relative risk rating of very high. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Check whether your home has an unbraced cripple wall, an unbolted foundation, or an unsecured water heater; use a qualified local professional for retrofit decisions. Secure tall furniture and heavy objects that could fall where people sleep or sit. Use Ready.gov Earthquakes and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Earthquake rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson, CA | 6 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Compton, CA | 7 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Norwalk, CA | 9 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Downey, CA | 10 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Buena Park, CA | 10 mi | Very High | 99.9 |
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.