Photo: ASDFGH · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Covina’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Covina gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #384 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (59%), then river and rain flooding (41%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Covina 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
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 Covina’s grade
Earthquakes are 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Covina, and Covina’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 41% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
D #384 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Covina’s residents live in 15 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, Covina has less expected damage per building than 55% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $27.1M a year in losses across Covina: $21.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Covina flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Covina, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Covina 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 Covina
Disasters that paid out in Covina itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Covina), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds200 households applied for aid$49K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires26 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$51K to the City of Covina for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$68K to the City of Covina for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides29 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$3K to the City of Covina for repairs
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T13 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
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 Covina after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Covina archive →Covina and its neighbors
Covina is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Oak | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | — |
| San Dimas | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Covina | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 1 |
| West Covina | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Vincent | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | — |
| Citrus | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Glendora | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Covina 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.
- 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 Covina
Is Covina at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Covina has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #384 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (59%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Covina flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Covina since 1978, $729 in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Covina 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 Covina?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Covina’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 Covina?
By FEMA money that reached Covina, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows (2010): $68K to the City of Covina for repairs.
Is Covina at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Covina’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Covina.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Covina’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.