Photo: BrendelSignature · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Hollister faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hollister gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #586 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (75%), then river and rain flooding (24%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims 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 Hollister 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 Hollister’s grade
Earthquakes are 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hollister, and Hollister’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 24% (higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #586 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hollister’s residents live in 10 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, Hollister has more expected damage per building than 69% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $35.4M a year in losses across Hollister: $25.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hollister flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hollister, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern9 claims · $118K
Hollister isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: San Benito County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hollister
Disasters that paid out in Hollister itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hollister), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides195 households applied for aid$697K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$19K to the City of Hollister for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$82K to the City of Hollister for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
San Benito County has had 15 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 Hollister after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hollister archive →Hollister and its neighbors
Hollister is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgemark | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Hollister | D−more damage than 95% | earthquakes | 16 |
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 Hollister 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 Hollister
Is Hollister at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hollister has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #586 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (75%) and river and rain flooding (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hollister flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Hollister since 1995, $283K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (9).
Is Hollister 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 San Benito County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hollister?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hollister’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 Hollister?
By FEMA money that reached Hollister, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 195 households applied for aid, $697K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 9 paid, $118K.
Is Hollister at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Hollister’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hollister.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hollister’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.