Photo: Toksave · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Huntington Beach than in 87% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #250 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (49%), then river and rain flooding (47%). Flood insurance has paid 490 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Huntington Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach’s grade
Earthquakes are 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Huntington Beach, and Huntington Beach’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #250 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Huntington Beach’s residents live in 48 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, Huntington Beach has less expected damage per building than 71% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Huntington Beach has higher expected damage per building than 80% (#319 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $96.8M, is the 119th largest of those 400.
Does Huntington Beach flood? Yes: 490 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Huntington Beach, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern49 claims · $161K
- The Winter storm2 claims · $23K
- The February California Atmospheric River2 claims · $186K
Huntington Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Orange County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Huntington Beach
Disasters that paid out in Huntington Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Huntington Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Wildfires139 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$188K to the City of Huntington Beach for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$106K to the City of Huntington Beach for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$57K to the City of Huntington Beach for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides41 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$114K to the City of Huntington Beach for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Orange County has had 27 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 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 2002–2022.
Old photos of Huntington Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Huntington Beach archive →Huntington Beach and its neighbors
Huntington Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Beach | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 490 |
| Fountain Valley | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 91 |
| Midway City | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 6 |
| Westminster | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 82 |
| Costa Mesa | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Seal Beach | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 107 |
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 Huntington Beach 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.
- Huntington Beach residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Huntington Beach
Is Huntington Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington Beach has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #250 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (49%) and river and rain flooding (47%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Huntington Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 490 claims in Huntington Beach since 1978, $3.0M in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (49).
Is Huntington Beach 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 Orange County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Huntington Beach?
Huntington Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Huntington Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Huntington Beach, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2017): $188K to the City of Huntington Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 49 paid, $161K.
Is Huntington Beach at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Huntington Beach’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Huntington Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Huntington Beach’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.