Photo: Cedward Brice · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Rancho Palos Verdes than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rancho Palos Verdes gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #187 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (55%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1980.
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 Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Rancho Palos Verdes’ grade
Earthquakes are 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rancho Palos Verdes, and Rancho Palos Verdes’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #187 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rancho Palos Verdes’ 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, Rancho Palos Verdes has less expected damage per building than 78% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $22.6M a year in losses across Rancho Palos Verdes: $19.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rancho Palos Verdes flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rancho Palos Verdes, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rancho Palos Verdes isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rancho Palos Verdes
Disasters that paid out in Rancho Palos Verdes itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds131 households applied for aid$770 aid approved
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$477K to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for repairs
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$112K to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$40K to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$79K to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides21 households applied for aid$39K aid approved$724K to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for repairs
Los Angeles County has had 40 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 44 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Los Angeles County, 2002–2025.
Old photos of Rancho Palos Verdes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rancho Palos Verdes archive →Rancho Palos Verdes and its neighbors
Rancho Palos Verdes is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling Hills | C−more damage than 78% | earthquakes | — |
| Rolling Hills Estates | C−more damage than 81% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | C−more damage than 82% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Palos Verdes Estates | C−more damage than 84% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Lomita | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
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 Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Rancho Palos Verdes
Is Rancho Palos Verdes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rancho Palos Verdes has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #187 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 Rancho Palos Verdes flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Rancho Palos Verdes since 1980, $261K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Los Angeles County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rancho Palos Verdes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rancho Palos Verdes’ 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 Rancho Palos Verdes?
By FEMA money that reached Rancho Palos Verdes, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 21 households applied for aid, $39K approved, and $724K to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for repairs.
Is Rancho Palos Verdes at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Rancho Palos Verdes’ rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rancho Palos Verdes’ 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.