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D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Riverside · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Riverside than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverside gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #637 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then earthquakes (37%). Flood insurance has paid 31 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 59%Earthquakes 37%Wildfire 3%

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

more than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#637 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D−#637 of 847
in California · higher than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
59% of expected building damage
Flood claims
31
paid since 1979 · $118K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
8
of 33 declared for Riverside County
By hazard

What Riverside 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

59%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

37%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire Tornadoes Hail Hurricanes Strong wind Winter storms Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts earthquakes at 47% of Riverside’s expected losses. Earthquakes do little damage to buildings (37.4%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Riverside’s grade

River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Riverside, and Riverside’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 37%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Riverside sits
Riverside
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #637 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Riverside’s residents live in 82 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding59%Earthquakes37%Everything else3%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Riverside has more expected damage per building than 75% of California towns.

Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Riverside has higher expected damage per building than 95% (#379 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $249M, is the 28th largest of those 400.

A firm figure. It combines 82 census tracts by where Riverside’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Riverside flood? Sometimes: 31 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Riverside, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 12 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 3 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 3 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 2 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 5 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 1 claim2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019831998
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern5 claims · $24K
31
paid claims since 1979
$118K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$4K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Riverside isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Riverside County.
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Riverside

Disasters that paid out in Riverside itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Riverside), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Tropical Storm Hilary$89K to the City of Riverside for repairs
  2. 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$381K to the City of Riverside for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$170K to the City of Riverside for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$888K to the City of Riverside for repairs
  5. 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$118K to the City of Riverside for repairs
  6. 2007Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows13 households applied for aid$496 aid approved
Show all 8
  1. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides60 households applied for aid$72K aid approved$924K to the City of Riverside for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T172 households applied for aid$90K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in RiversideRiverside County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Riverside after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Riverside archive →
Next door

Riverside and its neighbors

Riverside is 8th of the 10 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

El Sobrante: hazard risk DHighgrove: hazard risk D−Norco: hazard risk D−Moreno Valley: hazard risk D−Woodcrest: hazard risk D−March ARB: hazard risk DJurupa Valley: hazard risk D−Corona: hazard risk D−Home Gardens: hazard risk DEl SobranteHighgroveNorcoMoreno ValleyWoodcrestMarch ARBJurupa ValleyCoronaHome GardensRiverside
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
March ARBDmore damage than 91%earthquakes—
El SobranteDmore damage than 92%river and rain flooding—
Home GardensDmore damage than 95%river and rain flooding—
NorcoD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding15
WoodcrestD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding1
Moreno ValleyD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding9
CoronaD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding49
RiversideD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding31
Jurupa ValleyD−among the highest damageriver and rain flooding1
HighgroveD−among the highest damageriver and rain flooding1

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Riverside faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Riverside

Is Riverside at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverside has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #637 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and earthquakes (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Riverside flood?

Flood insurance has paid 31 claims in Riverside since 1979, $118K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (5).

Is Riverside 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 Riverside?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Riverside’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 Riverside?

By FEMA money that reached Riverside, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 60 households applied for aid, $72K approved, and $924K to the City of Riverside for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 5 paid, $24K.

Is Riverside at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Riverside’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Riverside.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Riverside’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.