More hazard damage per building is expected in Madera Ranchos than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madera Ranchos gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #237 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then earthquakes (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 Madera Ranchos 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
Wildfire
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 Madera Ranchos’ grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Madera Ranchos, and Madera Ranchos’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 12%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #237 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Madera Ranchos’ residents live in 2 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, Madera Ranchos has less expected damage per building than 72% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Madera Ranchos: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Madera Ranchos flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Madera Ranchos. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Madera Ranchos isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Madera County.The storms Madera Ranchos remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Madera County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Madera Ranchos itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Madera County has had 16 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 6 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Madera County, 2005–2020.
Get ready for what Madera Ranchos 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Madera Ranchos
Is Madera Ranchos at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madera Ranchos has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #237 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Madera Ranchos 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 Madera County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Madera Ranchos?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Madera Ranchos’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Madera Ranchos at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Madera Ranchos’ rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madera Ranchos.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Madera Ranchos’ 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.