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DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Monte Sereno · FEMA

More hazard damage per building is expected in Monte Sereno than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monte Sereno gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #321 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (67%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1998.

Earthquakes 67%River and rain flooding 32%Wildfire 1%

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

more than 90%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#321 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D#321 of 847
in California · higher than 90% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Earthquakes
67% of expected building damage
Flood claims
2
paid since 1998 · $42K
Disasters paid out here
1
of 19 declared for Santa Clara County
By hazard

What Monte Sereno faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Earthquakes

67%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

32%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire Tornadoes Landslides top 5% Hail Strong wind Winter storms Heat waves Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Monte Sereno’s grade

Earthquakes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monte Sereno, and Monte Sereno’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 32% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Monte Sereno sits
Monte Sereno
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #321 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Monte Sereno’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Earthquakes67%River and rain flooding32%Everything else1%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Monte Sereno has less expected damage per building than 62% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Monte Sereno: $3.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Monte Sereno covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Monte Sereno flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1998

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monte Sereno, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims19982010
19982026
Biggest named events
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $29K
  • The Winter storm1 claim · $13K
2
paid claims since 1998
$42K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$21K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Monte Sereno isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Santa Clara County.
Disasters

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Monte Sereno

Disasters that paid out in Monte Sereno itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Monte Sereno), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$657 aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Monte SerenoSanta Clara County only

Santa Clara 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Clara County, 2002–2020.

Were you here?

Old photos of Monte Sereno after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Monte Sereno archive →
Next door

Monte Sereno and its neighbors

Monte Sereno has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Los Gatos: hazard risk DSaratoga: hazard risk DLos GatosSaratogaMonte Sereno
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Monte SerenoDmore damage than 90%earthquakes2
Los GatosDmore damage than 92%earthquakes10
SaratogaDmore damage than 94%earthquakes11

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Monte Sereno faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Monte Sereno

Is Monte Sereno at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monte Sereno has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #321 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (67%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Monte Sereno flood?

Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Monte Sereno since 1998, $42K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).

Is Monte Sereno 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 Santa Clara County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Monte Sereno?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monte Sereno’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 Monte Sereno?

By FEMA money that reached Monte Sereno, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 1 households applied for aid, $657 approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $29K.

Is Monte Sereno at risk from earthquakes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Monte Sereno’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monte Sereno.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monte Sereno’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.