Photo: Ab189 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Chino Hills than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chino Hills gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #706 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Chino Hills 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 Chino Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chino Hills, and Chino Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 24%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #706 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chino Hills’ residents live in 14 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, Chino Hills has more expected damage per building than 83% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $80.3M a year in losses across Chino Hills: $76.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chino Hills flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chino Hills, from FEMA’s records: 0.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $4K
Chino Hills 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chino Hills
Disasters that paid out in Chino Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Chino Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires41 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$16K to the City of Chino Hills for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$298K to the City of Chino Hills for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$158K to the City of Chino Hills for repairs
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T6 households applied for aid$306 aid approved
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 Chino Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chino Hills archive →Chino Hills and its neighbors
Chino Hills 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Bar | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Corona | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Pomona | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Chino Hills | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Chino | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Chino Hills 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 Chino Hills
Is Chino Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chino Hills has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #706 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chino Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Chino Hills since 1998, $4K in all, or 0.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Chino Hills 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 Chino Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chino Hills’ 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 Chino Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Chino Hills, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows (2005): $298K to the City of Chino Hills for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Chino Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Chino Hills’ rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chino Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chino Hills’ 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.