On FEMA’s figures, Diamond Springs faces more hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Diamond Springs gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #244 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (56%), then river and rain flooding (40%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Diamond Springs faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Wildfire
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 Diamond Springs’ grade
Wildfire is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Diamond Springs, and Diamond Springs’ rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 40% (higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts).
D #244 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Diamond Springs’ 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, Diamond Springs has less expected damage per building than 71% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across Diamond Springs: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Diamond Springs flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Diamond Springs. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Diamond Springs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: El Dorado County.The storms Diamond Springs remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for El Dorado County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Diamond Springs itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
El Dorado County has had 18 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 5 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in El Dorado County, 2004–2022.
Diamond Springs and its neighbors
Diamond Springs is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placerville | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Shingle Springs | C−more damage than 84% | wildfire | — |
| Diamond Springs | Dmore damage than 86% | wildfire | 0 |
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 Diamond Springs faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Diamond Springs
Is Diamond Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Diamond Springs has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #244 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (56%) and river and rain flooding (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Diamond Springs 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 El Dorado County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Diamond Springs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Diamond Springs’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Diamond Springs at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Diamond Springs’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Diamond Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Diamond Springs’ 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.