Photo: Valente Quintero Castro · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Riverbank faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverbank gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #38 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then earthquakes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2006.
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 Riverbank 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 Riverbank’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Riverbank, and Riverbank’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 36% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #38 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Riverbank’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, Riverbank has less expected damage per building than 96% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Riverbank: $4.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Riverbank flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Riverbank, 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.
Riverbank isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stanislaus County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Riverbank
Disasters that paid out in Riverbank itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Riverbank), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$40K to the City of Riverbank for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Stanislaus County has had 16 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Stanislaus County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Riverbank after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Riverbank archive →Get ready for what Riverbank 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Riverbank
Is Riverbank at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverbank has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #38 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and earthquakes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Riverbank flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Riverbank since 2006, $34K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Riverbank 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 Stanislaus County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Riverbank?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Riverbank’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 Riverbank?
By FEMA money that reached Riverbank, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): $40K to the City of Riverbank for repairs.
Is Riverbank at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Riverbank’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Riverbank.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Riverbank’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.