Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Oak Park than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Park gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #317 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then earthquakes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1998.
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 Oak Park 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
Wildfire
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 Oak Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oak Park, and Oak Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #317 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oak Park’s residents live in 3 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, Oak Park has less expected damage per building than 63% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.0M a year in losses across Oak Park: $8.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oak Park flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oak Park, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $4K
- The California Atmospheric River1 claim · $7K
Oak Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ventura County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oak Park
Disasters that paid out in Oak Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to Oak Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$300 aid approved
- 2018Wildfires123 households applied for aid$87K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
Ventura County has had 32 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 17 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Ventura County, 2003–2026.
Old photos of Oak Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oak Park archive →Oak Park and its neighbors
Oak Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Thousand Oaks | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
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 Oak Park 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Oak Park
Is Oak Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Park has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #317 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and earthquakes (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oak Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Oak Park since 1998, $162K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).
Is Oak Park 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 Ventura County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oak Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oak Park’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 Oak Park?
By FEMA money that reached Oak Park, Wildfires (2018): 123 households applied for aid, $87K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $4K.
Is Oak Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Oak Park’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oak Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oak Park’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.