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D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Santa Paula · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Santa Paula than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from earthquakes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Paula gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #816 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (55%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 27 claims here since 1978.

Earthquakes 55%River and rain flooding 38%Wildfire 7%

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

among the highestof U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#816 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D−#816 of 847
in California · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Earthquakes
55% of expected building damage
Flood claims
27
paid since 1978 · $134K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 32 declared for Ventura County

What stands out about Santa Paula’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Wildfire: the top 2% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for wildfire here ranks in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts; it is 7.1% of the damage it expects.Remembers 199510 flood claims were paid for 1995 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Santa Paula faces

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

Earthquakes

55%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

38%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Wildfire

7%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts earthquakes at 67% of Santa Paula’s expected losses. Earthquakes do little damage to buildings (55.2%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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 Paula’s grade

Earthquakes are 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Santa Paula, and Santa Paula’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 38%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Santa Paula sits
Santa Paula
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #816 of 847 in California; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Santa Paula’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Earthquakes55%River and rain flooding38%Wildfire7%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Santa Paula has more expected damage per building than 96% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $41.9M a year in losses across Santa Paula: $29.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Santa Paula covers 6 census tracts, combined by where 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 Paula flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Santa Paula, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 0 claims1980: 8 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 1 claim1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 2 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 10 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 2 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019911995
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $7K
27
paid claims since 1978
$134K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Ventura County.
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Santa Paula

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

  1. 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$338K to the City of Santa Paula for repairs
  2. 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides83 households applied for aid$349K aid approved$307K to the City of Santa Paula for repairs
  3. 2017Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows147 households applied for aid$440K aid approved$1.4M to the City of Santa Paula for repairs
  4. 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$63K to the City of Santa Paula for repairs
  5. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides56 households applied for aid$102K aid approved$545K to the City of Santa Paula for repairs
  6. 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T15 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$11K to the City of Santa Paula for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Santa PaulaVentura County only

Ventura 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 17 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Ventura County, 2003–2026.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Santa Paula archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Santa Paula 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 ↗
Wildfire
  • Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
  • Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
  • Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
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 Paula

Is Santa Paula at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Santa Paula has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #816 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (55%) and river and rain flooding (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Santa Paula flood?

Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Santa Paula since 1978, $134K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).

Is Santa Paula 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 Ventura County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Santa Paula?

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

By FEMA money that reached Santa Paula, Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows (2017): 147 households applied for aid, $440K approved, and $1.4M to the City of Santa Paula for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $7K.

Is Santa Paula at risk from earthquakes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Santa Paula’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Santa Paula.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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