Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Palm Springs faces more hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm Springs gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #593 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 129 claims here since 1978.
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 Palm Springs’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palm Springs, and Palm Springs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 38%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #593 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palm Springs’ residents live in 20 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, Palm Springs has more expected damage per building than 70% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $70.9M a year in losses across Palm Springs: $63.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palm Springs flood? Yes: 129 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palm Springs, from FEMA’s records: 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Hilary1 claim · $27K
- The Winter storm1 claim · $9K
Palm Springs is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Riverside County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palm Springs
Disasters that paid out in Palm Springs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Palm Springs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Tropical Storm Hilary$169K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $27K
- 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$44K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$35K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$48K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$18K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$7K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides34 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$235K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs
Riverside County has had 33 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 30 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Riverside County, 2003–2026.
Old photos of Palm Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palm Springs archive →Palm Springs and its neighbors
Palm Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral City | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Palm Springs | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Desert Hot Springs | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Rancho Mirage | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Whitewater | D−among the highest damage | wildfire | — |
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 Palm Springs 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.
- Palm Springs residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Palm Springs
Is Palm Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm Springs has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #593 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palm Springs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 129 claims in Palm Springs since 1978, $844K in all, or 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Hilary (1).
Is Palm Springs 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 Riverside County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Palm Springs?
Palm Springs is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Palm Springs?
By FEMA money that reached Palm Springs, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 34 households applied for aid, $19K approved, and $235K to the City of Palm Springs for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Hilary: 1 paid, $27K.
Is Palm Springs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Palm Springs’ rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palm Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palm Springs’ 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.