Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Florence-Graham than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florence-Graham gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #436 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (75%), then river and rain flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1995.
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 Florence-Graham 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 Florence-Graham’s grade
Earthquakes are 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Florence-Graham, and Florence-Graham’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 25% (higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts).
D #436 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Florence-Graham’s residents live in 13 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, Florence-Graham has more expected damage per building than 51% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.8M a year in losses across Florence-Graham: $15.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Florence-Graham flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Florence-Graham, 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.
Florence-Graham 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.The storms Florence-Graham remembers
None of the 40 disasters declared for Los Angeles County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Florence-Graham itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19951 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow, declared for Los Angeles County
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 Florence-Graham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Florence-Graham archive →Florence-Graham and its neighbors
Florence-Graham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Park | Dmore damage than 89% | earthquakes | — |
| South Gate | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Huntington Park | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | — |
| Florence-Graham | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
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 Florence-Graham 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 Florence-Graham
Is Florence-Graham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florence-Graham has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #436 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (75%) and river and rain flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Florence-Graham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Florence-Graham since 1995, $12K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Florence-Graham 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 Florence-Graham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Florence-Graham’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Florence-Graham at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Florence-Graham’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Florence-Graham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Florence-Graham’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.