Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Santa Cruz than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Cruz gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #471 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (51%), then river and rain flooding (39%). Flood insurance has paid 110 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 Cruz’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Santa Cruz 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
Tsunamis
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 Cruz’s grade
Earthquakes are 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Santa Cruz, and Santa Cruz’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 9%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #471 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Santa Cruz’s residents live in 17 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 Cruz has more expected damage per building than 56% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $57.2M a year in losses across Santa Cruz: $44.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Santa Cruz flood? Yes: 110 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Santa Cruz, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern21 claims · $311K
- The San Diego Flooding4 claims · $117K
- The California Atmospheric River2 claims · $109K
Santa Cruz is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Santa Cruz County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Santa Cruz
Disasters that paid out in Santa Cruz itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Santa Cruz), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$19K to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1,058 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved$14K to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides439 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$2.9M to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs
- 2020Wildfires2,422 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$343K to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$1.8M to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$287K to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs
Show all 8
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$346K to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$610K to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Santa Cruz County has had 24 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 6 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Cruz County, 2002–2020.
Old photos of Santa Cruz after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Santa Cruz archive →Santa Cruz and its neighbors
Santa Cruz is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Twin Lakes | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Santa Cruz | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 110 |
| Paradise Park | — | 470 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pasatiempo | — | 610 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 Santa Cruz 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.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- 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.
- Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
Is Santa Cruz at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Cruz has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #471 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (51%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Santa Cruz flood?
Flood insurance has paid 110 claims in Santa Cruz since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (21).
Is Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
By FEMA money that reached Santa Cruz, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 439 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $2.9M to the City of Santa Cruz for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 21 paid, $311K.
Is Santa Cruz at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Santa Cruz’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Santa Cruz.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Santa Cruz’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.