Photo: dconvertini · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Pacific Grove faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pacific Grove gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #46 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (55%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2016.
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 Pacific Grove faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Pacific Grove’s grade
Earthquakes are 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pacific Grove, and Pacific Grove’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #46 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pacific Grove’s residents live in 7 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, Pacific Grove has less expected damage per building than 95% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Pacific Grove: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pacific Grove flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2016
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pacific Grove, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Pacific Grove isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monterey County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pacific Grove
Disasters that paid out in Pacific Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pacific Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$60K to the City of Pacific Grove for repairs
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides17 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$142K to the City of Pacific Grove for repairs
Monterey County has had 26 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Monterey County, 2008–2020.
Old photos of Pacific Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pacific Grove archive →Pacific Grove and its neighbors
Pacific Grove is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Monte Forest | Bless damage than 61% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Pacific Grove | B−less damage than 51% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Monterey | Cmore damage than 70% | earthquakes | 14 |
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 Pacific Grove faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Pacific Grove
Is Pacific Grove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pacific Grove has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #46 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (55%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pacific Grove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Pacific Grove since 2016, $7K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Pacific Grove 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 Monterey County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pacific Grove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pacific Grove’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 Pacific Grove?
By FEMA money that reached Pacific Grove, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 24 households applied for aid, $36K approved, and $142K to the City of Pacific Grove for repairs.
Is Pacific Grove at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Pacific Grove’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pacific Grove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pacific Grove’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.