Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Sacramento faces less hazard damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sacramento gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #16 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then earthquakes (43%). Flood insurance has paid 1,013 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 Sacramento’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sacramento 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 Sacramento’s grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sacramento, and Sacramento’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 43% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #16 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sacramento’s residents live in 147 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, Sacramento has less expected damage per building than 98% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Sacramento has lower expected damage per building than 79% (#86 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $114M, is the 96th largest of those 400.
Does Sacramento flood? Yes: 1,013 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sacramento, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern48 claims · $188K
- The California Atmospheric River33 claims · $560K
- The Mid-Winter California Flooding1 claim · $3K
Sacramento is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 4) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Sacramento County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sacramento
Disasters that paid out in Sacramento itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sacramento), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$60K to the City of Sacramento for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1,915 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$3.0M to the City of Sacramento for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Wildfires7 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$45K to the City of Sacramento for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$120K to the City of Sacramento for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$265K to the City of Sacramento for repairs
Show all 7
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides94 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$433K to the City of Sacramento for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
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 Sacramento after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sacramento archive →Sacramento and its neighbors
Sacramento is 7th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruitridge Pocket | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| McClellan Park | Aless damage than 92% | earthquakes | — |
| Lemon Hill | Aless damage than 90% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Parkway | Aless damage than 88% | earthquakes | 64 |
| Rosemont | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| North Highlands | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Sacramento | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1,013 |
| Florin | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Arden-Arcade | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 181 |
| West Sacramento | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Freeport | — | 0 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Sacramento 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.
- Sacramento residents get 30% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Sacramento
Is Sacramento at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sacramento has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #16 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and earthquakes (43%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sacramento flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,013 claims in Sacramento since 1978, $10.4M in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 41 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (48).
Is Sacramento 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 Sacramento?
Sacramento is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 4), which takes 30% 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 Sacramento?
By FEMA money that reached Sacramento, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 1,915 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $3.0M to the City of Sacramento for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 48 paid, $188K.
Is Sacramento at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Sacramento’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sacramento.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sacramento’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.