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.
City risk summary
For Whittier, FEMA rates earthquake risk for Los Angeles County as very high, with a relative score of 100.0/100. The next highest relative scores are wildfire at 99.9/100 and heat wave at 98.4/100.
Using FEMA data for Los Angeles County, Whittier is tied #1 among 111 covered California entries for earthquake risk; 22 entries share that score. Norwalk is about 5.6 straight-line miles from the Whittier map point and uses the same FEMA geography.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Whittier? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Whittier. 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, Whittier 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 Whittier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CA | 6 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Downey, CA | 7 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| El Monte, CA | 7 mi | Very High | 100.0 |
| Buena Park, CA | 8 mi | Very High | 99.9 |
| Fullerton, CA | 8 mi | Very High | 99.9 |
Limited to products tagged for earthquake or general preparedness.
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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.