Photo: Payton Chung · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, San Jose faces more hazard damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, San Jose gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #661 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (52%), then river and rain flooding (47%). Flood insurance has paid 389 claims here since 1979.
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 San Jose’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What San Jose 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 Jose’s grade
Earthquakes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in San Jose, and San Jose’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 47%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #661 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
San Jose’s residents live in 235 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 Jose has more expected damage per building than 78% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, San Jose has higher expected damage per building than 96% (#384 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $982M, is the 5th largest of those 400.
Does San Jose flood? Yes: 389 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in San Jose, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern31 claims · $226K
- The California Atmospheric River4 claims · $29K
- The Winter storm1 claim · $1K
San Jose is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Santa Clara County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to San Jose
Disasters that paid out in San Jose itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of San Jose), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$543K to the City of San Jose for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides101 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$948K to the City of San Jose for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Wildfires653 households applied for aid$27K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$6.0M to the City of San Jose for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$1.0M to the City of San Jose for repairs
- 2013Rim Fire$263K to the City of San Jose for repairs
Show all 8
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$195K to the City of San Jose for repairs
- 1999Ca-wildfires-08/25/1999$3K to the City of San Jose for repairs
Santa Clara 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.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Clara County, 2002–2020.
Old photos of San Jose after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the San Jose archive →San Jose and its neighbors
San Jose is 9th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Sunnyvale | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Campbell | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Cupertino | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Saratoga | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 11 |
| Alum Rock | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | — |
| East Foothills | Dmore damage than 95% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Fremont | D−more damage than 95% | earthquakes | 9 |
| San Jose | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 389 |
| Milpitas | D−more damage than 98% | earthquakes | 21 |
| Santa Clara | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Jose 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.
- San Jose residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in San Jose
Is San Jose at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, San Jose has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #661 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (52%) and river and rain flooding (47%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does San Jose flood?
Flood insurance has paid 389 claims in San Jose since 1979, $10.4M in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (31).
Is San Jose 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 Santa Clara County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in San Jose?
San Jose is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 San Jose?
By FEMA money that reached San Jose, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2017): $6.0M to the City of San Jose for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 31 paid, $226K.
Is San Jose at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and San Jose’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in San Jose.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where San Jose’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.