Photo: Cristiano Tomás · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Morgan Hill’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morgan Hill gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #541 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then earthquakes (48%). Flood insurance has paid 51 claims here since 1980.
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 Morgan Hill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Morgan Hill 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
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 Morgan Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morgan Hill, and Morgan Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 48%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #541 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morgan Hill’s residents live in 10 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, Morgan Hill has more expected damage per building than 64% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $46.5M a year in losses across Morgan Hill: $40.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morgan Hill flood? Sometimes: 51 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morgan Hill, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern4 claims · $43K
- The California Atmospheric River3 claims · $60K
Morgan Hill is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Santa Clara County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morgan Hill
Disasters that paid out in Morgan Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Morgan Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides23 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$365K to the City of Morgan Hill for repairs
- 2020Wildfires28 households applied for aid$201K to the City of Morgan Hill for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$96K to the City of Morgan Hill for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$76K to the City of Morgan Hill for repairs
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.
Old photos of Morgan Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morgan Hill archive →Morgan Hill and its neighbors
Morgan Hill has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Hill | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| San Martin | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 5 |
| San Jose | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 389 |
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 Morgan Hill 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.
- 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.
- Morgan Hill residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Morgan Hill
Is Morgan Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morgan Hill has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #541 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and earthquakes (48%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Morgan Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 51 claims in Morgan Hill since 1980, $663K in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (4).
Is Morgan Hill 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 Morgan Hill?
Morgan Hill is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Morgan Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Morgan Hill, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 23 households applied for aid, $42K approved, and $365K to the City of Morgan Hill for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 4 paid, $43K.
Is Morgan Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Morgan Hill’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morgan Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morgan Hill’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.