Photo: BigBearCabins · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Big Bear Lake than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Big Bear Lake gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #390 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (58%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1993.
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 Big Bear Lake’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Big Bear Lake 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
Wildfire
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 Big Bear Lake’s grade
Earthquakes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Big Bear Lake, and Big Bear Lake’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #390 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Big Bear Lake’s residents live in 5 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, Big Bear Lake has less expected damage per building than 54% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.8M a year in losses across Big Bear Lake: $12.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Big Bear Lake flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Big Bear Lake, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Big Bear Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: San Bernardino County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Big Bear Lake
Disasters that paid out in Big Bear Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Big Bear Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides48 households applied for aid$65K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$7K to the City of Big Bear Lake for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$26K to the City of Big Bear Lake for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides28 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$338K to the City of Big Bear Lake for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T310 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$29K to the City of Big Bear Lake for repairs
San Bernardino County has had 34 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 24 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in San Bernardino County, 2002–2024.
Old photos of Big Bear Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Big Bear Lake archive →Big Bear Lake and its neighbors
Big Bear Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bear Lake | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 17 |
| Big Bear City | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Big Bear Lake 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Big Bear Lake
Is Big Bear Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Big Bear Lake has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #390 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (58%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Big Bear Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Big Bear Lake since 1993, $365K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Big Bear Lake 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 San Bernardino County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Big Bear Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Big Bear Lake’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 Big Bear Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Big Bear Lake, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 28 households applied for aid, $40K approved, and $338K to the City of Big Bear Lake for repairs.
Is Big Bear Lake at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Big Bear Lake’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Big Bear Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Big Bear Lake’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.