Photo: Elaine with Grey Cats from Mountain View, CA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Ben Lomond, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ben Lomond gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #824 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then earthquakes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 48 claims here since 1981.
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 Ben Lomond’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ben Lomond 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 Ben Lomond’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ben Lomond, and Ben Lomond’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 25%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #824 of 847 in California; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ben Lomond’s residents live in 3 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, Ben Lomond has more expected damage per building than 97% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.6M a year in losses across Ben Lomond: $9.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ben Lomond flood? Sometimes: 48 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ben Lomond, from FEMA’s records: 17.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern21 claims · $327K
Ben Lomond isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Santa Cruz County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ben Lomond
Disasters that paid out in Ben Lomond itself (aid to households or repair grants to Ben Lomond), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides100 households applied for aid$966K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides142 households applied for aid$476K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires393 households applied for aid$362K aid approved
Santa Cruz County has had 24 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 6 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Cruz County, 2002–2020.
Old photos of Ben Lomond after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ben Lomond archive →Ben Lomond and its neighbors
Ben Lomond is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonny Doon | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Felton | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brookdale | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Ben Lomond | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Lompico | — | 788 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Zayante | — | 399 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 Ben Lomond 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 Ben Lomond
Is Ben Lomond at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ben Lomond has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #824 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and earthquakes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ben Lomond flood?
Flood insurance has paid 48 claims in Ben Lomond since 1981, $515K in all, or 17.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (21).
Is Ben Lomond 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 Santa Cruz County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ben Lomond?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ben Lomond’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 Ben Lomond?
By FEMA money that reached Ben Lomond, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 100 households applied for aid, $966K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 21 paid, $327K.
Is Ben Lomond at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Ben Lomond’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ben Lomond.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ben Lomond’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.