Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome · Photo: Richard Wang took this photo and has released it under the GDFL. · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Santa Monica faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Monica gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #401 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (61%), then river and rain flooding (39%). Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1980.
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 Monica 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 Santa Monica’s grade
Earthquakes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Santa Monica, and Santa Monica’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 39% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
D #401 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Santa Monica’s residents live in 20 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 Monica has less expected damage per building than 53% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $87.6M a year in losses across Santa Monica: $62.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Santa Monica flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Santa Monica, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern5 claims · $27K
- The February California Atmospheric River3 claims · $21K
- The Mid-Winter California Flooding1 claim · $40K
Santa Monica 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Santa Monica
Disasters that paid out in Santa Monica itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Santa Monica), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds3,068 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$208K to the City of Santa Monica for repairs
- 2020Wildfires37 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides35 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$17K to the City of Santa Monica for repairs
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T12 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
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.
Old photos of Santa Monica after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Santa Monica archive →Santa Monica and its neighbors
Santa Monica has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 21 |
| Los Angeles | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 1,980 |
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 Monica 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Santa Monica
Is Santa Monica at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Monica has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #401 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (61%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Santa Monica flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Santa Monica since 1980, $147K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (5).
Is Santa Monica 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 Monica?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Santa Monica’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 Monica?
By FEMA money that reached Santa Monica, Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (2025): 3,068 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $208K to the City of Santa Monica for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 5 paid, $27K.
Is Santa Monica at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Santa Monica’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Santa Monica.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Santa Monica’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.