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Clarke EstateClarke Estate · Photo: Northwalker · CC0
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Santa Fe Springs · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Santa Fe Springs than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Fe Springs gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #504 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (72%), then river and rain flooding (27%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

Earthquakes 72%River and rain flooding 27%

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

more than 94%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#504 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D#504 of 847
in California · higher than 94% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Earthquakes
72% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
2
of 40 declared for Los Angeles County
By hazard

What Santa Fe Springs faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Earthquakes

72%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

27%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Wildfire Winter storms Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Santa Fe Springs’ grade

Earthquakes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Santa Fe Springs, and Santa Fe Springs’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 27% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Santa Fe Springs sits
Santa Fe Springs
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #504 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Santa Fe Springs’ residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Earthquakes72%River and rain flooding27%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Santa Fe Springs has more expected damage per building than 59% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $40.2M a year in losses across Santa Fe Springs: $34.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Santa Fe Springs’ residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Santa Fe Springs flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Santa Fe Springs. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Santa Fe Springs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.
Disasters

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Santa Fe Springs

Disasters that paid out in Santa Fe Springs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Santa Fe Springs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds39 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$832 aid approved$18K to the City of Santa Fe Springs for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Santa Fe SpringsLos Angeles County only

Los Angeles County has had 40 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 44 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Los Angeles County, 2002–2025.

Were you here?

Old photos of Santa Fe Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Santa Fe Springs archive →
Next door

Santa Fe Springs and its neighbors

Santa Fe Springs is 6th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

West Whittier-Los Nietos: hazard risk DSouth Whittier: hazard risk D−Norwalk: hazard risk DPico Rivera: hazard risk DWhittier: hazard risk DLa Mirada: hazard risk DDowney: hazard risk DCerritos: hazard risk DWest Whittier-Los NietosSouth WhittierNorwalkPico RiveraWhittierLa MiradaDowneyCerritosSanta Fe Springs
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
DowneyDmore damage than 89%earthquakes6
Pico RiveraDmore damage than 91%earthquakes5
WhittierDmore damage than 92%earthquakes6
CerritosDmore damage than 93%earthquakes3
NorwalkDmore damage than 94%earthquakes2
Santa Fe SpringsDmore damage than 94%earthquakes0
La MiradaDmore damage than 94%river and rain flooding7
West Whittier-Los NietosDmore damage than 95%earthquakes1
South WhittierD−more damage than 96%river and rain flooding2

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Santa Fe Springs faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Santa Fe Springs

Is Santa Fe Springs at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Fe Springs has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #504 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (72%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Santa Fe Springs 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 Los Angeles County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Santa Fe Springs?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Santa Fe Springs’ 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 Fe Springs?

By FEMA money that reached Santa Fe Springs, Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $832 approved, and $18K to the City of Santa Fe Springs for repairs.

Is Santa Fe Springs at risk from earthquakes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Santa Fe Springs’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Santa Fe Springs.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Santa Fe Springs’ 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.