Photo: Federico Pizano · CC BY 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Martinez than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Martinez gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #381 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (52%), then river and rain flooding (46%). Flood insurance has paid 87 claims here since 1982.
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 Martinez’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Martinez 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 Martinez’s grade
Earthquakes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Martinez, and Martinez’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 46% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
D #381 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Martinez’s residents live in 14 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, Martinez has less expected damage per building than 55% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $33.2M a year in losses across Martinez: $25.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Martinez flood? Sometimes: 87 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Martinez, from FEMA’s records: 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern5 claims · $87K
- The California Atmospheric River1 claim · $59K
Martinez isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Contra Costa County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Martinez
Disasters that paid out in Martinez itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Martinez), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides80 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$450K to the City of Martinez for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$208K to the City of Martinez for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$618K to the City of Martinez for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides54 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$94K to the City of Martinez for repairs23 flood claims paid that year
Contra Costa County has had 17 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.
Old photos of Martinez after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Martinez archive →Martinez and its neighbors
Martinez is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliez Valley | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Martinez | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 87 |
| Mountain View | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Vine Hill | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Pleasant Hill | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Pacheco | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Alhambra Valley | — | 979 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 Martinez 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 Martinez
Is Martinez at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Martinez has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #381 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (52%) and river and rain flooding (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Martinez flood?
Flood insurance has paid 87 claims in Martinez since 1982, $838K in all, or 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (5).
Is Martinez 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 Contra Costa County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Martinez?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Martinez’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 Martinez?
By FEMA money that reached Martinez, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2017): $618K to the City of Martinez for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 5 paid, $87K.
Is Martinez at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Martinez’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Martinez.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Martinez’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.