FEMA puts Las Lomas’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Las Lomas gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #612 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (65%), then river and rain flooding (24%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Las Lomas 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
Coastal 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 Las Lomas’ grade
Earthquakes are 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Las Lomas, and Las Lomas’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #612 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Las Lomas’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Las Lomas has more expected damage per building than 72% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Las Lomas: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Las Lomas flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Las Lomas. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Las Lomas isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monterey County.The storms Las Lomas remembers
None of the 26 disasters declared for Monterey County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Las Lomas itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Monterey County has had 26 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Monterey County, 2008–2020.
Get ready for what Las Lomas 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Las Lomas
Is Las Lomas at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Las Lomas has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #612 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (65%) and river and rain flooding (24%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Las Lomas 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 Monterey County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Las Lomas?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Las Lomas’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Las Lomas at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Las Lomas’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Las Lomas.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Las Lomas’ 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.