Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Oroville than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oroville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #172 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1986.
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 Oroville 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 Oroville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oroville, and Oroville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #172 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oroville’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, Oroville has less expected damage per building than 80% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.5M a year in losses across Oroville: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oroville flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oroville, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Oroville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Butte County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oroville
Disasters that paid out in Oroville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Oroville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides69 households applied for aid$181K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires783 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$269K to the City of Oroville for repairs
- 2018Wildfires1,179 households applied for aid$7.7M aid approved$4K to the City of Oroville for repairs
- 2017Wildfires98 households applied for aid$79K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$282K to the City of Oroville for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$47K to the City of Oroville for repairs
Butte County has had 24 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 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Butte County, 2004–2024.
Old photos of Oroville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oroville archive →Oroville and its neighbors
Oroville is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Oroville | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Oroville | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Oroville East | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Thermalito | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Palermo | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
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 Oroville 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 Oroville
Is Oroville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oroville has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #172 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oroville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Oroville since 1986, $517K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Oroville 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 Butte County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oroville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oroville’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 Oroville?
By FEMA money that reached Oroville, Wildfires (2018): 1,179 households applied for aid, $7.7M approved, and $4K to the City of Oroville for repairs.
Is Oroville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Oroville’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oroville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oroville’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.