Photo: Esun · CC BY 2.5More hazard damage per building is expected in Arcadia than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arcadia gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #605 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then earthquakes (46%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1980.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Arcadia faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Arcadia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Arcadia, and Arcadia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 46%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #605 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Arcadia’s residents live in 15 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Arcadia has more expected damage per building than 71% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $60.5M a year in losses across Arcadia: $50.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Arcadia flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Arcadia, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Arcadia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Arcadia
Disasters that paid out in Arcadia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Arcadia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds1,441 households applied for aid$302K aid approved$141K to the City of Arcadia for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$1.7M to the City of Arcadia for repairs
- 2020Wildfires18 households applied for aid$321K to the City of Arcadia for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$511K to the City of Arcadia for repairs
Los Angeles County has had 40 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 44 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Los Angeles County, 2002–2025.
Old photos of Arcadia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Arcadia archive →Arcadia and its neighbors
Arcadia is 4th of the 10 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irwindale | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | — |
| Monrovia | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 7 |
| East Pasadena | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | — |
| Arcadia | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| El Monte | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sierra Madre | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 16 |
| Mayflower Village | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| East San Gabriel | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Temple City | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| North El Monte | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Arcadia faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Arcadia
Is Arcadia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arcadia has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #605 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and earthquakes (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Arcadia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Arcadia since 1980, $4K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Arcadia in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Los Angeles County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Arcadia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Arcadia’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Arcadia?
By FEMA money that reached Arcadia, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): $1.7M to the City of Arcadia for repairs.
Is Arcadia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Arcadia’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Arcadia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Arcadia’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.