Photo: UncleVinny · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Arden-Arcade faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arden-Arcade gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #72 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then earthquakes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 181 claims here since 1986.
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 stands out about Arden-Arcade’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Arden-Arcade 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 Arden-Arcade’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Arden-Arcade, and Arden-Arcade’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 21% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #72 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Arden-Arcade’s residents live in 25 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, Arden-Arcade has less expected damage per building than 92% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.1M a year in losses across Arden-Arcade: $22.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Arden-Arcade flood? Yes: 181 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Arden-Arcade, from FEMA’s records: 4.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $4K
- The Winter storm1 claim · $580
Arden-Arcade isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sacramento County.The storms Arden-Arcade remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Sacramento County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Arden-Arcade itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199762 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 199537 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow, declared for Sacramento County
- 198622 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Sacramento County
Sacramento County has had 19 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.
Old photos of Arden-Arcade after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Arden-Arcade archive →Arden-Arcade and its neighbors
Arden-Arcade is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Riviera | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| North Highlands | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Sacramento | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1,013 |
| Carmichael | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Arden-Arcade | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 181 |
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 Arden-Arcade 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 Arden-Arcade
Is Arden-Arcade at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arden-Arcade has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #72 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Arden-Arcade flood?
Flood insurance has paid 181 claims in Arden-Arcade since 1986, $5.7M in all, or 4.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).
Is Arden-Arcade 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 Sacramento County, 81% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Arden-Arcade?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Arden-Arcade’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 Arden-Arcade?
By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $4K.
Is Arden-Arcade at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Arden-Arcade’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Arden-Arcade.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Arden-Arcade’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.