Minerva Club of Santa Maria · Photo: ELEAZARCH · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Santa Maria than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Maria gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #177 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then earthquakes (37%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1992.
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 Santa Maria 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 Maria’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Santa Maria, and Santa Maria’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 37% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #177 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Santa Maria’s residents live in 26 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 Maria has less expected damage per building than 79% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Santa Maria has higher expected damage per building than 73% (#294 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $37.6M, is the 311th largest of those 400.
Does Santa Maria flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Santa Maria, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Santa Maria 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Santa Maria
Disasters that paid out in Santa Maria itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Santa Maria), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$600 aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides387 households applied for aid$934K aid approved$285K to the City of Santa Maria for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$39K to the City of Santa Maria for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$20K to the City of Santa Maria for repairs
- 2003Earthquake$29K to the City of Santa Maria 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 Maria after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Santa Maria archive →Santa Maria and its neighbors
Santa Maria is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orcutt | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Santa Maria | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Maria 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 Maria
Is Santa Maria at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Maria has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #177 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and earthquakes (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Santa Maria flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Santa Maria since 1992, $93K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Santa Maria 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 Maria?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Santa Maria’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 Maria?
By FEMA money that reached Santa Maria, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 387 households applied for aid, $934K approved, and $285K to the City of Santa Maria for repairs.
Is Santa Maria at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Santa Maria’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Santa Maria.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Santa Maria’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.