Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Santa Barbara than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Barbara gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #749 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%), then earthquakes (45%). Flood insurance has paid 276 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 Santa Barbara’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara’s grade
River and rain flooding is 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 45%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #749 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Santa Barbara’s residents live in 30 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, Santa Barbara has more expected damage per building than 88% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $115M a year in losses across Santa Barbara: $87.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Santa Barbara flood? Yes: 276 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Santa Barbara, from FEMA’s records: 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The California Atmospheric River41 claims · $1.5M
- The Pineapple Express - Southern25 claims · $247K
- The December California Flooding11 claims · $243K
Santa Barbara isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Santa Barbara County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Santa Barbara
Disasters that paid out in Santa Barbara itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Santa Barbara), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$232K to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$713K to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs52 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides774 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$3.5M to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs
- 2017Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows1,099 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$481K to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$133K to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs
Show all 8
- 2008Wildfires388 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$936K to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides157 households applied for aid$381K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs
Santa Barbara County has had 32 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 8 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Barbara County, 2004–2021.
Old photos of Santa Barbara after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Santa Barbara archive →Santa Barbara and its neighbors
Santa Barbara is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Goleta | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Montecito | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Santa Barbara | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 276 |
| Mission Canyon | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Eastern Goleta Valley | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
Is Santa Barbara at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Barbara has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #749 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%) and earthquakes (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Santa Barbara flood?
Flood insurance has paid 276 claims in Santa Barbara since 1978, $5.0M in all, or 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 34 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from California Atmospheric River (41).
Is Santa Barbara 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 Barbara County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Santa Barbara?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Santa Barbara’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 Santa Barbara?
By FEMA money that reached Santa Barbara, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 774 households applied for aid, $2.2M approved, and $3.5M to the City of Santa Barbara for repairs. By flood claims, California Atmospheric River: 41 paid, $1.5M.
Is Santa Barbara at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Santa Barbara’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Santa Barbara.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Santa Barbara’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.