Magalia Community Church · Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Magalia’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Magalia gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #361 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (60%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1983.
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 Magalia faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Wildfire
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 Magalia’s grade
Wildfire is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Magalia, and Magalia’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 28% (lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts).
D #361 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Magalia’s residents live in 4 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, Magalia has less expected damage per building than 57% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Magalia: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Magalia flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Magalia, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Magalia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Butte County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Magalia
Disasters that paid out in Magalia itself (aid to households or repair grants to Magalia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides222 households applied for aid$323K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires61 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2018Wildfires4,768 households applied for aid$10.1M aid approved
- 2017Wildfires25 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
Butte County has had 24 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 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Butte County, 2004–2024.
Old photos of Magalia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Magalia archive →Magalia and its neighbors
Magalia is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Magalia | Dmore damage than 91% | wildfire | 1 |
| Butte Creek Canyon | — | 713 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 Magalia faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Magalia
Is Magalia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Magalia has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #361 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (60%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Magalia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Magalia since 1983, $47K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Magalia 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 Butte County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Magalia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Magalia’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 Magalia?
By FEMA money that reached Magalia, Wildfires (2018): 4,768 households applied for aid, $10.1M approved.
Is Magalia at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Magalia’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Magalia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Magalia’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.