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ForestvilleEdit2739Photo: Stepheng3 at English Wikipedia · Public domain
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Forestville · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Forestville, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forestville gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #762 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then earthquakes (24%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

River and rain flooding 72%Earthquakes 24%Wildfire 4%

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

among the highestof U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#762 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D−#762 of 847
in California · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
72% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
3
of 24 declared for Sonoma County

What stands out about Forestville’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Landslides: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for landslides here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 0.6% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way88 homes raised above flood level with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Forestville 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

72%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

24%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire top 4% Landslides top 1% Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Heat waves Lightning Volcanic activity top 5%
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamis

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Forestville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forestville, and Forestville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 24%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Forestville sits
Forestville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #762 of 847 in California; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Forestville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding72%Earthquakes24%Wildfire4%Everything else1%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Forestville has more expected damage per building than 90% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across Forestville: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Forestville covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Forestville flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Forestville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Forestville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Sonoma County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
88homes raised above flood level
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Forestville

Disasters that paid out in Forestville itself (aid to households or repair grants to Forestville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2020Wildfires74 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
  2. 2017Wildfires32 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
  3. 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides67 households applied for aid$169K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ForestvilleSonoma County only

Sonoma County has had 24 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 8 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Sonoma County, 2004–2020.

Were you here?

Old photos of Forestville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Forestville archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Forestville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Forestville

Is Forestville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forestville has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #762 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Forestville 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 Sonoma County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Forestville?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forestville’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 Forestville?

By FEMA money that reached Forestville, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2005): 67 households applied for aid, $169K approved.

Is Forestville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Forestville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forestville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forestville’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.