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Pond Farm Pottery Historic DistrictPond Farm Pottery Historic District · Photo: MikeVdP · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Guerneville · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Guerneville than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guerneville gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #824 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then earthquakes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 86 claims here since 1995.

River and rain flooding 79%Earthquakes 16%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#824 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D−#824 of 847
in California · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
79% of expected building damage
Flood claims
86
paid since 1995 · $2.5M
Disasters paid out here
2
of 24 declared for Sonoma County

What stands out about Guerneville’s natural hazards

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

Wildfire: the top 3% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for wildfire here ranks in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts; it is 4.1% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way280 homes raised above flood level with FEMA grants.Remembers 201963 flood claims were paid for 2019 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Guerneville 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

79%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

16%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire top 3% Landslides top 1% Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Heat waves Lightning Volcanic activity
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 Guerneville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Guerneville, and Guerneville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 16%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Guerneville sits
Guerneville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #824 of 847 in California; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Guerneville’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding79%Earthquakes16%Wildfire4%Everything else1%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Guerneville has more expected damage per building than 97% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.6M a year in losses across Guerneville: $7.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Wildfires in 2020, FEMA took 306 aid registrations from Guerneville addresses (the town has 3,181 homes).
A small-area figure. Guerneville covers 4 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 Guerneville flood? Sometimes: 86 flood claims since 1995

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Guerneville, from FEMA’s records: 27.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1995: 6 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 7 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 2 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 63 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 3 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims199520052019
19952026
Biggest named events
  • The California Atmospheric River2 claims · $16K
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $75
86
paid claims since 1995
$2.5M
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$29K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Guerneville 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
280homes raised above flood level
Disasters

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Guerneville

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

  1. 2020Wildfires306 households applied for aid$91K aid approved
  2. 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides175 households applied for aid$258K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in GuernevilleSonoma 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 Guerneville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Guerneville archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Guerneville 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 Guerneville

Is Guerneville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guerneville has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #824 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Guerneville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 86 claims in Guerneville since 1995, $2.5M in all, or 27.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (2).

Is Guerneville 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 Guerneville?

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

By FEMA money that reached Guerneville, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2005): 175 households applied for aid, $258K approved. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 2 paid, $16K.

Is Guerneville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Guerneville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Guerneville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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