Menlo Park Railroad Station · Photo: Ron Reiring from Inland Empire of Southern California, USA · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Menlo Park than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Menlo Park gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #495 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (61%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1978.
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 Menlo Park 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 Menlo Park’s grade
Earthquakes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Menlo Park, and Menlo Park’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 38% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
D #495 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Menlo Park’s residents live in 11 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, Menlo Park has more expected damage per building than 58% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $42.1M a year in losses across Menlo Park: $31.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Menlo Park flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Menlo Park, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern7 claims · $150K
- The California Atmospheric River2 claims · $46K
Menlo Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: San Mateo County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Menlo Park
Disasters that paid out in Menlo Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Menlo Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides46 households applied for aid$54K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Wildfires51 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
San Mateo 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in San Mateo County, 2010–2020.
Old photos of Menlo Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Menlo Park archive →Menlo Park and its neighbors
Menlo Park is 5th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 1 |
| East Palo Alto | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 23 |
| West Menlo Park | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 4 |
| Woodside | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Menlo Park | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 16 |
| Atherton | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 8 |
| Redwood City | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 62 |
| Fremont | D−more damage than 95% | earthquakes | 9 |
| Palo Alto | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 376 |
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 Menlo Park 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.
- Menlo Park residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Menlo Park
Is Menlo Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Menlo Park has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #495 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (61%) and river and rain flooding (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Menlo Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Menlo Park since 1978, $265K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (7).
Is Menlo Park 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 San Mateo County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Menlo Park?
Menlo Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Menlo Park?
By FEMA money that reached Menlo Park, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 46 households applied for aid, $54K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 7 paid, $150K.
Is Menlo Park at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Menlo Park’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Menlo Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Menlo Park’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.