USCGC STORIS (cutter) · Photo: United States Coast Guard, PA1 Kurt Fredrickson · Public domainFEMA puts Benicia’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benicia gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #207 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (68%), then river and rain flooding (29%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims 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 Benicia 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 Benicia’s grade
Earthquakes are 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Benicia, and Benicia’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #207 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Benicia’s residents live in 8 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, Benicia has less expected damage per building than 76% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.4M a year in losses across Benicia: $20.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Benicia flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Benicia, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The California Atmospheric River2 claims · $305K
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $948
Benicia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Solano County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Benicia
Disasters that paid out in Benicia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Benicia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$1.0M to the City of Benicia for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Wildfires33 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$34K to the City of Benicia for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Earthquake19 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$75K to the City of Benicia for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides25 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$21K to the City of Benicia for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Solano County has had 23 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Solano County, 2008–2020.
Old photos of Benicia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Benicia archive →Benicia and its neighbors
Benicia has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benicia | C−more damage than 84% | earthquakes | 8 |
| Vallejo | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 106 |
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 Benicia 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 Benicia
Is Benicia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benicia has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #207 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (68%) and river and rain flooding (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Benicia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Benicia since 1998, $932K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (2).
Is Benicia 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 Solano County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Benicia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Benicia’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 Benicia?
By FEMA money that reached Benicia, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): $1.0M to the City of Benicia for repairs. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 2 paid, $305K.
Is Benicia at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Benicia’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Benicia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Benicia’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.