FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Burbank than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burbank gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #749 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (53%), then earthquakes (47%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Burbank 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 Burbank’s grade
River and rain flooding is 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burbank, and Burbank’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 47%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #749 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Burbank’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, Burbank has more expected damage per building than 88% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across Burbank: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Burbank flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Burbank. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Burbank 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 Clara County.The storms Burbank remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Santa Clara County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Burbank itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Santa Clara County has had 19 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Clara County, 2002–2020.
Get ready for what Burbank 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 Burbank
Is Burbank at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burbank has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #749 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (53%) and earthquakes (47%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Burbank 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 Clara County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Burbank?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Burbank’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Burbank at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Burbank’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burbank.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burbank’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.