Photo: Los Angeles · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Azusa faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Azusa gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #387 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (52%), then river and rain flooding (45%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2000.
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 Azusa 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 Azusa’s grade
Earthquakes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Azusa, and Azusa’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #387 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Azusa’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, Azusa has less expected damage per building than 54% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.2M a year in losses across Azusa: $20.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Azusa flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Azusa, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Azusa 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Azusa
Disasters that paid out in Azusa itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Azusa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds183 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$105K to the City of Azusa for repairs
- 2020Wildfires23 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$27K to the City of Azusa for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides21 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$8K to the City of Azusa for repairs
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
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 Azusa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Azusa archive →Azusa and its neighbors
Azusa is 3rd of the 6 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 | — |
| Duarte | Dmore damage than 89% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Azusa | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Vincent | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | — |
| Citrus | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Glendora | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Azusa 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 Azusa
Is Azusa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Azusa has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #387 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (52%) and river and rain flooding (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Azusa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Azusa since 2000, $750 in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Azusa 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 Azusa?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Azusa’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 Azusa?
By FEMA money that reached Azusa, Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (2025): 183 households applied for aid, $64K approved, and $105K to the City of Azusa for repairs.
Is Azusa at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Azusa’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Azusa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Azusa’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.