Photo: Julie Jordan Scott from Bakersfield, California, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Hanford’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hanford gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #115 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then earthquakes (42%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2016.
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 Hanford 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
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 Hanford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hanford, and Hanford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 42% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C #115 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hanford’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, Hanford has less expected damage per building than 87% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.4M a year in losses across Hanford: $14.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hanford flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2016
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hanford, from FEMA’s records: 0.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hanford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kings County.The storms Hanford remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Kings County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hanford itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20161 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Kings County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hanford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hanford archive →Hanford and its neighbors
Hanford has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Home Garden | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Hanford 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.
- 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 Hanford
Is Hanford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hanford has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #115 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and earthquakes (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hanford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hanford since 2016, $2K in all, or 0.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hanford 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 Kings County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hanford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hanford’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Hanford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Hanford’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hanford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hanford’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.