Photo: Raleigh Littles · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Morro Bay faces more hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morro Bay gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #196 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Morro Bay’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Morro Bay 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
Tsunamis
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 Morro Bay’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morro Bay, and Morro Bay’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 18%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #196 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morro Bay’s residents live in 5 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, Morro Bay has less expected damage per building than 77% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Morro Bay: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morro Bay flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morro Bay, from FEMA’s records: 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The California Atmospheric River9 claims · $636K
- The Pineapple Express - Southern4 claims · $12K
Morro Bay is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: San Luis Obispo County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morro Bay
Disasters that paid out in Morro Bay itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Morro Bay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides29 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$527K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides220 households applied for aid$846K aid approved$894K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$44K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$55K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$7K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs
- 2003Earthquake137 households applied for aid$183K aid approved$214K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs
San Luis Obispo County has had 23 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in San Luis Obispo County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Morro Bay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morro Bay archive →Morro Bay and its neighbors
Morro Bay has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morro Bay | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Cayucos | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Morro Bay 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.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- 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.
- Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay
Is Morro Bay at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morro Bay has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #196 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Morro Bay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Morro Bay since 1982, $924K in all, or 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (9).
Is Morro Bay 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 Luis Obispo County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Morro Bay?
Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay?
By FEMA money that reached Morro Bay, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 220 households applied for aid, $846K approved, and $894K to the City of Morro Bay for repairs. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 9 paid, $636K.
Is Morro Bay at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Morro Bay’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morro Bay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morro Bay’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.