Los Cerritos Ranch House · Photo: Dan Cathcart, photographer · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Long Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Beach gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #568 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then earthquakes (48%). Flood insurance has paid 195 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 Long Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Long Beach 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
Earthquakes
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 Long Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Long Beach, and Long Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 48%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #568 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Long Beach’s residents live in 113 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, Long Beach has more expected damage per building than 67% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Long Beach has higher expected damage per building than 91% (#366 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $314M, is the 19th largest of those 400.
Does Long Beach flood? Yes: 195 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Long Beach, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm21 claims · $451K
- The Pineapple Express - Southern17 claims · $64K
- The February California Atmospheric River2 claims · $17K
Long Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Long Beach
Disasters that paid out in Long Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Long Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds1,559 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$104K to the City of Long Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$1.2M to the City of Long Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Wildfires153 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$532K to the City of Long Beach for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$762K to the City of Long Beach for repairs25 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Wildfires153 households applied for aid$19K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2007Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows587 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$448K to the City of Long Beach for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides1,760 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$576K to the City of Long Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T3,840 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved
Los Angeles County has had 40 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 44 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Los Angeles County, 2002–2025.
Old photos of Long Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Long Beach archive →Long Beach and its neighbors
Long Beach is 7th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 21 |
| Paramount | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Lakewood | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Los Alamitos | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Hawaiian Gardens | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Compton | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 8 |
| Long Beach | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 195 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
| 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 Long 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Long Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Long Beach
Is Long Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Beach has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #568 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and earthquakes (48%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Long Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 195 claims in Long Beach since 1978, $2.6M in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (21).
Is Long 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 Los Angeles County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Long Beach?
Long Beach 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 Long Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Long Beach, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 1,760 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $576K to the City of Long Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 21 paid, $451K.
Is Long Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Long Beach’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Long Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Long 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.