Photo: Catalinaschool · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Monterey’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monterey gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #111 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (58%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1995.
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 Monterey 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 Monterey’s grade
Earthquakes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monterey, and Monterey’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 4%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #111 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Monterey’s residents live in 9 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, Monterey has less expected damage per building than 87% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.8M a year in losses across Monterey: $15.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Monterey flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monterey, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $26K
Monterey isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monterey County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Monterey
Disasters that paid out in Monterey itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Monterey), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$194K to the City of Monterey for repairs
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides139 households applied for aid$323K aid approved$367K to the City of Monterey for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides41 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$250K to the City of Monterey for repairs
- 2020Wildfires422 households applied for aid$66K aid approved$7K to the City of Monterey for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$93K to the City of Monterey for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$417K to the City of Monterey for repairs
Show all 7
- 2011Tsunami Waves$4K to the City of Monterey for repairs
Monterey County has had 26 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Monterey County, 2008–2020.
Old photos of Monterey after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Monterey archive →Monterey and its neighbors
Monterey is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Monte Forest | Bless damage than 61% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Pacific Grove | B−less damage than 51% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Monterey | Cmore damage than 70% | earthquakes | 14 |
| Seaside | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Del Rey Oaks | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 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 Monterey 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 Monterey
Is Monterey at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monterey has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #111 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (58%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Monterey flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Monterey since 1995, $2.7M in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).
Is Monterey 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 Monterey County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Monterey?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monterey’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 Monterey?
By FEMA money that reached Monterey, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 139 households applied for aid, $323K approved, and $367K to the City of Monterey for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $26K.
Is Monterey at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Monterey’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monterey.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monterey’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.