More hazard damage per building is expected in Avocado Heights than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avocado Heights gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #592 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (60%), then river and rain flooding (39%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1998.
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 Avocado Heights faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Avocado Heights’ grade
Earthquakes are 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Avocado Heights, and Avocado Heights’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 39%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #592 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Avocado Heights’ residents live in 4 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, Avocado Heights has more expected damage per building than 70% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $32.9M a year in losses across Avocado Heights: $28.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Avocado Heights flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Avocado Heights, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $2K
Avocado Heights 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.The storms Avocado Heights remembers
None of the 40 disasters declared for Los Angeles County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Avocado Heights itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19981 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, declared for Los Angeles County
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 Avocado Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Avocado Heights archive →Avocado Heights and its neighbors
Avocado Heights has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado Heights | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Industry | — | 210 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Avocado Heights faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Avocado Heights
Is Avocado Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avocado Heights has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #592 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (60%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Avocado Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Avocado Heights since 1998, $2K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Avocado Heights 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 Avocado Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Avocado Heights’ 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 Avocado Heights?
By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Avocado Heights at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Avocado Heights’ rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Avocado Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Avocado Heights’ 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.