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Lake-elsinore-viewPhoto: Mrbooger · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Lake Elsinore · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Lake Elsinore, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Elsinore gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #760 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 208 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 61%Earthquakes 20%Wildfire 19%

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#760 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D−#760 of 847
in California · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
61% of expected building damage
Flood claims
208
paid since 1978 · $3.0M
Flooded more than once
8
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Lake Elsinore’s natural hazards

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

208 paid flood claims since 1978$3.0M in all; 8 properties flooded more than once.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Lake Elsinore residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Wildfire: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for wildfire here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 18.7% of the damage it expects.Remembers 1980145 flood claims were paid for 1980 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Lake Elsinore 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

61%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

20%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts

Wildfire

19%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Hurricanes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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 Lake Elsinore’s grade

River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Elsinore, and Lake Elsinore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 20%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Lake Elsinore sits
Lake Elsinore
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #760 of 847 in California; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Lake Elsinore’s residents live in 18 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding61%Earthquakes20%Wildfire19%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lake Elsinore has more expected damage per building than 90% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $56.0M a year in losses across Lake Elsinore: $51.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 18 census tracts by where Lake Elsinore’s 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 Lake Elsinore flood? Yes: 208 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Elsinore, from FEMA’s records: 9.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 5 claims1979: 3 claims1980: 145 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 0 claims1983: 18 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 0 claims1993: 17 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 16 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019831993
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $4K
208
paid claims since 1978
$3.0M
paid to owners
8
homes flooded more than once
$14K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Lake Elsinore is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Riverside County.
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Elsinore

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

  1. 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$81K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$262K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$27K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs
  4. 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$27K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs
  5. 2007Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows15 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$11K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs
  6. 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$114K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs
Show all 8
  1. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides36 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$41K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs
  2. 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T10 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Lake ElsinoreRiverside County only

Riverside County has had 33 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 30 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Riverside County, 2003–2026.

Were you here?

Old photos of Lake Elsinore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Lake Elsinore archive →
Next door

Lake Elsinore and its neighbors

Lake Elsinore is 6th of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Lakeland Village: hazard risk D−Warm Springs: hazard risk D−Canyon Lake: hazard risk DMeadowbrook: hazard risk D−Wildomar: hazard risk D−Temescal Valley: hazard risk D−Menifee: hazard risk D−Lakeland VillageWarm SpringsCanyon LakeMeadowbrookWildomarTemescal ValleyMenifeeLake Elsinore
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Canyon LakeDmore damage than 93%river and rain flooding—
Temescal ValleyD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding—
MenifeeD−more damage than 98%river and rain flooding4
Warm SpringsD−more damage than 98%river and rain flooding—
WildomarD−among the highest damageriver and rain flooding1
Lake ElsinoreD−among the highest damageriver and rain flooding208
MeadowbrookD−among the highest damagewildfire—
Lakeland VillageD−among the highest damageriver and rain flooding64

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Lake Elsinore 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 ↗
Wildfire
  • 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.
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.
  • Lake Elsinore residents get 10% off flood insurance.
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 Lake Elsinore

Is Lake Elsinore at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Elsinore has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #760 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Lake Elsinore flood?

Flood insurance has paid 208 claims in Lake Elsinore since 1978, $3.0M in all, or 9.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).

Is Lake Elsinore 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 Riverside County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Lake Elsinore?

Lake Elsinore is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Lake Elsinore?

By FEMA money that reached Lake Elsinore, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2017): $262K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $4K.

Is Lake Elsinore at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Lake Elsinore’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Elsinore.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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