Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Beverly Hills than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beverly Hills gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #562 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (52%), then river and rain flooding (47%). Flood insurance has paid 117 claims here since 1980.
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 Beverly Hills’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Beverly Hills 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 Beverly Hills’ grade
Earthquakes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beverly Hills, and Beverly Hills’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 47% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
D #562 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Beverly Hills’ residents live in 7 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, Beverly Hills has more expected damage per building than 66% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $54.9M a year in losses across Beverly Hills: $41.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Beverly Hills flood? Yes: 117 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beverly Hills, from FEMA’s records: 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern24 claims · $440K
- The California Atmospheric River3 claims · $89K
- The February California Atmospheric River1 claim · $47K
Beverly Hills 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beverly Hills
Disasters that paid out in Beverly Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Beverly Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds309 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires3 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$25K to the City of Beverly Hills for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$7K to the City of Beverly Hills for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Wildfires2 households applied for aid$827 aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$32K to the City of Beverly Hills for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides51 households applied for aid$97K aid approved$61K to the City of Beverly Hills for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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 Beverly Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Beverly Hills archive →Beverly Hills and its neighbors
Beverly Hills is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Beverly Hills | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 117 |
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 Beverly Hills 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 Beverly Hills
Is Beverly Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beverly Hills has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #562 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (52%) and river and rain flooding (47%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Beverly Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 117 claims in Beverly Hills since 1980, $1.6M in all, or 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (24).
Is Beverly Hills 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 Beverly Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Beverly Hills’ 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 Beverly Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Beverly Hills, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 51 households applied for aid, $97K approved, and $61K to the City of Beverly Hills for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 24 paid, $440K.
Is Beverly Hills at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Beverly Hills’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beverly Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beverly Hills’ 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.