Photo: San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conventions Bureau · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Cambria than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cambria gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #184 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1983.
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 Cambria 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 Cambria’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cambria, and Cambria’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #184 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cambria’s residents live in 2 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, Cambria has less expected damage per building than 78% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Cambria: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cambria flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cambria, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern5 claims · $78K
- The California Atmospheric River1 claim · $3K
Cambria 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 Luis Obispo County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cambria
Disasters that paid out in Cambria itself (aid to households or repair grants to Cambria), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides12 households applied for aid$35K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides55 households applied for aid$111K aid approved
- 2003Earthquake88 households applied for aid$120K aid approved
San Luis Obispo 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in San Luis Obispo County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Cambria after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cambria archive →Get ready for what Cambria 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 Cambria
Is Cambria at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cambria has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #184 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cambria flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Cambria since 1983, $430K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (5).
Is Cambria 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 Luis Obispo County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cambria?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cambria’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 Cambria?
By FEMA money that reached Cambria, Earthquake (2003): 88 households applied for aid, $120K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 5 paid, $78K.
Is Cambria at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Cambria’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cambria.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cambria’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.