Photo: Ramkumar Menon · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Los Gatos faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Los Gatos gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #390 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (66%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1980.
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 Los Gatos 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 Gatos’ grade
Earthquakes are 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Los Gatos, and Los Gatos’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 1%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #390 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Los Gatos’ residents live in 13 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 Gatos has less expected damage per building than 54% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $36.5M a year in losses across Los Gatos: $29.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Los Gatos flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Los Gatos, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $1K
Los Gatos isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Santa Clara County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Los Gatos
Disasters that paid out in Los Gatos itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Los Gatos), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides49 households applied for aid$302K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides178 households applied for aid$838K aid approved$172K to the Town of Los Gatos for repairs
- 2020Wildfires73 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$71K to the Town of Los Gatos for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$23K to the Town of Los Gatos for repairs
Santa Clara County has had 19 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Clara County, 2002–2020.
Old photos of Los Gatos after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Los Gatos archive →Los Gatos and its neighbors
Los Gatos is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monte Sereno | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Los Gatos | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Campbell | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Saratoga | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 11 |
| San Jose | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 389 |
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 Gatos 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Los Gatos
Is Los Gatos at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Los Gatos has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #390 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (66%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Los Gatos flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Los Gatos since 1980, $52K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Los Gatos 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 Santa Clara County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Los Gatos?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Los Gatos’ 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 Los Gatos?
By FEMA money that reached Los Gatos, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 178 households applied for aid, $838K approved, and $172K to the Town of Los Gatos for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Los Gatos at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Los Gatos’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Los Gatos.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Los Gatos’ 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.