U.S. Post Office and Courthouse · Photo: James Knox Taylor · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, San Francisco faces more hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, San Francisco gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #436 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (66%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 66 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco’s grade
Earthquakes are 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in San Francisco, and San Francisco’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #436 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
San Francisco’s residents live in 241 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, San Francisco has more expected damage per building than 51% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, San Francisco has higher expected damage per building than 87% (#350 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $853M, is the 6th largest of those 400.
Does San Francisco flood? Sometimes: 66 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in San Francisco, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The California Atmospheric River4 claims · $443K
San Francisco isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: San Francisco County.The storms San Francisco remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for San Francisco County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching San Francisco itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 197815 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 198610 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19807 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
San Francisco County has had 8 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 San Francisco after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the San Francisco archive →San Francisco and its neighbors
San Francisco is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Brisbane | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Daly City | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 23 |
| San Francisco | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 66 |
| Richmond | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 36 |
| Albany | D−more damage than 95% | earthquakes | — |
| Berkeley | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 15 |
| Alameda | D−more damage than 98% | earthquakes | 34 |
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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco
Is San Francisco at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, San Francisco has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #436 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (66%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does San Francisco flood?
Flood insurance has paid 66 claims in San Francisco since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (4).
Is San Francisco 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 San Francisco County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in San Francisco?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for San Francisco’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 San Francisco?
By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 4 paid, $443K.
Is San Francisco at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and San Francisco’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in San Francisco.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where San Francisco’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.