FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Parkway than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Parkway gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #3 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (51%), then river and rain flooding (48%). Flood insurance has paid 64 claims here since 1983.
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 Parkway’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Parkway 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 Parkway’s grade
Earthquakes are 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Parkway, and Parkway’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 48% (lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts).
A #3 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Parkway’s residents live in 4 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, Parkway has less expected damage per building than 100% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Parkway: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Parkway flood? Sometimes: 64 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Parkway, from FEMA’s records: 12.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $750
Parkway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sacramento County.The storms Parkway remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Sacramento County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Parkway itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199554 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow, declared for Sacramento County
- 19973 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19832 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides and Tornadoes, declared for Sacramento County
Sacramento County has had 19 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.
Old photos of Parkway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Parkway archive →Parkway and its neighbors
Parkway is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Hill | Aless damage than 90% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Parkway | Aless damage than 88% | earthquakes | 64 |
| Sacramento | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1,013 |
| Florin | Bless damage than 58% | 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 Parkway 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 Parkway
Is Parkway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Parkway has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #3 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (51%) and river and rain flooding (48%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Parkway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 64 claims in Parkway since 1983, $849K in all, or 12.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Parkway 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 Sacramento County, 81% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Parkway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Parkway’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 Parkway?
By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $750.
Is Parkway at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Parkway’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Parkway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Parkway’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.