Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Capitola than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Capitola gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #533 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (53%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 75 claims here since 1978.
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 Capitola 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
Tsunamis
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 Capitola’s grade
Earthquakes are 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Capitola, and Capitola’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 14%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #533 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Capitola’s residents live in 6 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, Capitola has more expected damage per building than 63% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Capitola: $7.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Capitola flood? Sometimes: 75 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Capitola, from FEMA’s records: 14.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The California Atmospheric River8 claims · $1.0M
- The Pineapple Express - Southern4 claims · $185K
- The December California Flooding2 claims · $77K
Capitola 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 Cruz County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Capitola
Disasters that paid out in Capitola itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Capitola), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides15 households applied for aid$54K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides66 households applied for aid$111K aid approved$1.0M to the City of Capitola for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Wildfires19 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2011Tsunami Waves$5K to the City of Capitola for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
Santa Cruz County has had 24 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 6 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Cruz County, 2002–2020.
Old photos of Capitola after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Capitola archive →Capitola and its neighbors
Capitola is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Seacliff | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 54 |
| Pleasure Point | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 8 |
| Capitola | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 75 |
| Soquel | D−more damage than 98% | earthquakes | 7 |
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 Capitola 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.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- 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 Capitola
Is Capitola at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Capitola has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #533 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (53%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Capitola flood?
Flood insurance has paid 75 claims in Capitola since 1978, $2.4M in all, or 14.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (8).
Is Capitola 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 Cruz County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Capitola?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Capitola’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 Capitola?
By FEMA money that reached Capitola, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 66 households applied for aid, $111K approved, and $1.0M to the City of Capitola for repairs. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 8 paid, $1.0M.
Is Capitola at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Capitola’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Capitola.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Capitola’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.