Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Calabasas than in 94% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Calabasas gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #522 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%), then earthquakes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 14 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 Calabasas 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
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 Calabasas’ grade
River and rain flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Calabasas, and Calabasas’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 29%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #522 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Calabasas’ 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, Calabasas has more expected damage per building than 62% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $27.8M a year in losses across Calabasas: $26.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Calabasas flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Calabasas, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The California Atmospheric River1 claim · $7K
- The February California Atmospheric River1 claim · $298K
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $774
Calabasas 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Calabasas
Disasters that paid out in Calabasas itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Calabasas), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds1,544 households applied for aid$407K aid approved$17K to the City of Calabasas for repairs
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$399K to the City of Calabasas for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$445K to the City of Calabasas for repairs
- 2018Wildfires290 households applied for aid$83K aid approved$17K to the City of Calabasas for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$237K to the City of Calabasas for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides52 households applied for aid$61K aid approved$209K to the City of Calabasas for repairs2 flood claims 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 Calabasas after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Calabasas archive →Calabasas and its neighbors
Calabasas is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agoura Hills | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Calabasas | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
| Topanga | D−among the highest damage | wildfire | 1 |
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 Calabasas 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.
- 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 Calabasas
Is Calabasas at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Calabasas has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #522 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%) and earthquakes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Calabasas flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Calabasas since 1998, $490K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (1).
Is Calabasas 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 Calabasas?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Calabasas’ 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 Calabasas?
By FEMA money that reached Calabasas, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): $445K to the City of Calabasas for repairs. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Calabasas at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Calabasas’ rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Calabasas.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Calabasas’ 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.