Photo: The original uploader was Tillman at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Malibu faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malibu gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #485 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then earthquakes (30%). Flood insurance has paid 133 claims here since 1988.
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 Malibu’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Malibu 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 Malibu’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Malibu, and Malibu’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 30%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #485 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Malibu’s residents live in 6 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, Malibu has more expected damage per building than 57% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.6M a year in losses across Malibu: $17.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Malibu flood? Yes: 133 flood claims since 1988
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Malibu, from FEMA’s records: 20.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern18 claims · $476K
- The February California Atmospheric River9 claims · $528K
- The California Atmospheric River3 claims · $379K
Malibu isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Malibu
Disasters that paid out in Malibu itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Malibu), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds2,569 households applied for aid$11.4M aid approved$61K to the City of Malibu for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$644K to the City of Malibu for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$409K to the City of Malibu for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$234K to the City of Malibu for repairs
- 2018Wildfires2,274 households applied for aid$4.2M aid approved$2.6M to the City of Malibu for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$277K to the City of Malibu for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$59K to the City of Malibu for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows221 households applied for aid$494K aid approved$145K to the City of Malibu for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$699K to the City of Malibu for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides81 households applied for aid$125K aid approved$4.0M to the City of Malibu for repairs5 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 Malibu after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Malibu archive →Malibu and its neighbors
Malibu is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | — |
| Malibu | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
| Topanga | D−among the highest damage | wildfire | 1 |
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 Malibu 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 Malibu
Is Malibu at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malibu has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #485 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and earthquakes (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Malibu flood?
Flood insurance has paid 133 claims in Malibu since 1988, $5.7M in all, or 20.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 62 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (18).
Is Malibu 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 Malibu?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Malibu’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 Malibu?
By FEMA money that reached Malibu, Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (2025): 2,569 households applied for aid, $11.4M approved, and $61K to the City of Malibu for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 18 paid, $476K.
Is Malibu at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Malibu’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Malibu.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Malibu’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.