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ICE Out of Tulare Vigil-1 (48780097162)Photo: Tommy Lee Kreger · CC BY 2.0
B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Lindsay · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lindsay as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lindsay gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #43 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then earthquakes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 76%Earthquakes 23%

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

less than 52%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#43 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
B−#43 of 847
in California · lower than 52% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
76% of expected building damage
Flood claims
12
paid since 1978 · $308K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
2
of 17 declared for Tulare County
By hazard

What Lindsay 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

76%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

23%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire Tornadoes Strong wind Heat waves top 1% Hail Winter storms Landslides Lightning Volcanic activity
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamis
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 20% of Lindsay’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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 Lindsay’s grade

River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lindsay, and Lindsay’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 23% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Lindsay sits
Lindsay
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− #43 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Lindsay’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding76%Earthquakes23%Everything else1%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lindsay has less expected damage per building than 95% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Lindsay: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Lindsay covers 4 census tracts, combined by where 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 Lindsay flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lindsay, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 0 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 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: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 8 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197819832023
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The California Atmospheric River8 claims · $255K
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $1K
12
paid claims since 1978
$308K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$26K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Lindsay isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Tulare County.
Disasters

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lindsay

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

  1. 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides205 households applied for aid$745K aid approved$203K to the City of Lindsay for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$37K to the City of Lindsay for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in LindsayTulare County only

Tulare County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Tulare County, 2016–2020.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Lindsay archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Lindsay 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 ↗
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.
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 Lindsay

Is Lindsay at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lindsay has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #43 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Lindsay flood?

Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Lindsay since 1978, $308K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (8).

Is Lindsay 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 Tulare County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Lindsay?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lindsay’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 Lindsay?

By FEMA money that reached Lindsay, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 205 households applied for aid, $745K approved, and $203K to the City of Lindsay for repairs. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 8 paid, $255K.

Is Lindsay at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Lindsay’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lindsay.

Town Square →
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Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lindsay’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.