Neutra, Richard and Dion, VDL Research Houses and Studio · Photo: Doncram · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Los Angeles than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Los Angeles gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #649 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (50%), then river and rain flooding (48%). Flood insurance has paid 1,980 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 Los Angeles’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Los Angeles 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
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 Los Angeles’ grade
Earthquakes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Los Angeles, and Los Angeles’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 48%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #649 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Los Angeles’ residents live in 1,114 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, Los Angeles has more expected damage per building than 77% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Los Angeles has higher expected damage per building than 95% (#380 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $3.20B, is the largest largest of those 400.
Does Los Angeles flood? Yes: 1,980 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Los Angeles, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern347 claims · $3.4M
- The California Atmospheric River52 claims · $2.3M
- The February California Atmospheric River51 claims · $3.0M
Los Angeles is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Los Angeles
Disasters that paid out in Los Angeles itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Los Angeles), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds157,282 households applied for aid$6.4M aid approved$365K to the City of Los Angeles for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$2.3M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs62 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Tropical Storm Hilary$4.0M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $53K
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$1.3M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$4.1M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs
- 2020Wildfires1,089 households applied for aid$46K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 16
- 2018Wildfires40 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$3.6M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows56 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$2.8M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$962K to the City of Los Angeles for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$20K to the City of Los Angeles for repairs35 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Wildfires469 households applied for aid$137K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Los Angeles for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows531 households applied for aid$15K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$7K to the City of Los Angeles for repairs148 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides11,291 households applied for aid$7.8M aid approved23 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T7,343 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
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 Los Angeles after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Los Angeles archive →Los Angeles and its neighbors
Los Angeles is 10th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Palos Verdes | C−more damage than 82% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Carson | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 21 |
| Santa Monica | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 21 |
| West Rancho Dominguez | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 1 |
| East Los Angeles | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 6 |
| Pasadena | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 31 |
| Inglewood | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Glendale | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Burbank | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
| Vernon | — | 331 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Los Angeles 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.
- 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.
- Los Angeles residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Los Angeles
Is Los Angeles at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Los Angeles has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #649 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (50%) and river and rain flooding (48%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Los Angeles flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,980 claims in Los Angeles since 1978, $26.9M in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 135 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (347).
Is Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Los Angeles?
By FEMA money that reached Los Angeles, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 11,291 households applied for aid, $7.8M approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 347 paid, $3.4M.
Is Los Angeles at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Los Angeles’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Los Angeles.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Los Angeles’ 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.