Photo: Don Ramey Logan, Diosthenese, User:CactusWriter · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Laguna Beach’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Laguna Beach gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #150 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (53%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 249 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 Laguna Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Laguna 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
Wildfire
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 Laguna Beach’s grade
Earthquakes are 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Laguna Beach, and Laguna Beach’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #150 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Laguna Beach’s residents live in 7 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, Laguna Beach has less expected damage per building than 82% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.3M a year in losses across Laguna Beach: $13.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Laguna Beach flood? Yes: 249 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Laguna Beach, from FEMA’s records: 18.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern49 claims · $671K
- The Winter storm4 claims · $269K
- The February California Atmospheric River2 claims · $17K
Laguna Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Laguna Beach
Disasters that paid out in Laguna Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Laguna Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$53K to the City of Laguna Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$504K to the City of Laguna Beach for repairs51 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$24.7M to the City of Laguna Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides17 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$118K to the City of Laguna Beach for repairs1 flood claim 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 Laguna Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Laguna Beach archive →Laguna Beach and its neighbors
Laguna Beach is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Niguel | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Laguna Beach | C−more damage than 77% | earthquakes | 249 |
| Aliso Viejo | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Laguna Woods | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Dana Point | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
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 Laguna 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Laguna Beach
Is Laguna Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Laguna Beach has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #150 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (53%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Laguna Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 249 claims in Laguna Beach since 1978, $5.5M in all, or 18.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 31 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (49).
Is Laguna 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 Laguna Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Laguna Beach’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 Laguna Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Laguna Beach, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows (2005): $24.7M to the City of Laguna Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 49 paid, $671K.
Is Laguna Beach at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Laguna Beach’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Laguna Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Laguna 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.