Photo: Oleg Alexandrov · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Napa faces more hazard damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Napa gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #698 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (34%). Flood insurance has paid 741 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 Napa’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Napa 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 Napa’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Napa, and Napa’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 34%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #698 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Napa’s residents live in 24 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, Napa has more expected damage per building than 82% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $84.0M a year in losses across Napa: $67.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Napa flood? Yes: 741 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Napa, from FEMA’s records: 23.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern8 claims · $58K
Napa is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Napa County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Napa
Disasters that paid out in Napa itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Napa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Wildfires361 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires1,680 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved
- 2017Wildfires2,366 households applied for aid$706K aid approved$2.3M to the City of Napa for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$31K to the City of Napa for repairs
- 2014Earthquake5,030 households applied for aid$9.4M aid approved$9.1M to the City of Napa for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$8K to the City of Napa for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides495 households applied for aid$521K aid approved$2.3M to the City of Napa for repairs238 flood claims paid that year
Napa County has had 25 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 9 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Napa County, 2008–2020.
Old photos of Napa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Napa archive →Napa and its neighbors
Napa is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Canyon | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Napa | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 741 |
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 Napa 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.
- Napa 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 Napa
Is Napa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Napa has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #698 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Napa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 741 claims in Napa since 1982, $20.6M in all, or 23.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 66 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (8).
Is Napa 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 Napa County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Napa?
Napa 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 Napa?
By FEMA money that reached Napa, Earthquake (2014): 5,030 households applied for aid, $9.4M approved, and $9.1M to the City of Napa for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 8 paid, $58K.
Is Napa at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Napa’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Napa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Napa’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.