Photo: The Oaked Ridge · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Folsom faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Folsom gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #66 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1986.
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 Folsom 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 Folsom’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Folsom, and Folsom’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #66 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Folsom’s residents live in 16 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, Folsom has less expected damage per building than 92% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.1M a year in losses across Folsom: $23.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Folsom flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Folsom, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $2K
Folsom isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sacramento County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Folsom
Disasters that paid out in Folsom itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Folsom), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides80 households applied for aid$38K aid approved$6K to the City of Folsom for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$53K to the City of Folsom for repairs
Sacramento County has had 19 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 Folsom after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Folsom archive →Folsom and its neighbors
Folsom is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Oaks | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Orangevale | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Folsom | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| El Dorado Hills | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Granite Bay | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
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 Folsom 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 Folsom
Is Folsom at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Folsom has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #66 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Folsom flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Folsom since 1986, $501K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Folsom 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 Sacramento County, 81% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Folsom?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Folsom’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 Folsom?
By FEMA money that reached Folsom, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2005): $53K to the City of Folsom for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Folsom at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Folsom’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Folsom.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Folsom’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.