US Post Office-El Centro Main · Photo: Cbl62 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in El Centro than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, El Centro gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #475 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (70%), then river and rain flooding (29%). 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 El Centro 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 El Centro’s grade
Earthquakes are 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in El Centro, and El Centro’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 29% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
D #475 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
El Centro’s residents live in 11 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, El Centro has more expected damage per building than 56% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $37.1M a year in losses across El Centro: $27.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does El Centro flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in El Centro. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
El Centro isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Imperial County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to El Centro
Disasters that paid out in El Centro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of El Centro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Tropical Storm Hilary$45K to the City of El Centro for repairs
- 2010Earthquake$1.4M to the City of El Centro for repairs
Imperial County has had 12 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.
Old photos of El Centro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the El Centro archive →El Centro and its neighbors
El Centro is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | — |
| El Centro | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 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 El Centro 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 El Centro
Is El Centro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, El Centro has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #475 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (70%) and river and rain flooding (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is El Centro 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 Imperial County, 4% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in El Centro?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for El Centro’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 El Centro?
By FEMA money that reached El Centro, Earthquake (2010): $1.4M to the City of El Centro for repairs.
Is El Centro at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and El Centro’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in El Centro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where El Centro’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.