Saratoga Foothill Club · Photo: EugeneZelenko · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Saratoga than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Saratoga gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #502 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (56%), then river and rain flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 11 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga’s grade
Earthquakes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Saratoga, and Saratoga’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #502 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Saratoga’s residents live in 9 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, Saratoga has more expected damage per building than 59% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $40.3M a year in losses across Saratoga: $33.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Saratoga flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Saratoga, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $18K
- The California Atmospheric River1 claim · $1K
- The February California Atmospheric River1 claim · $15K
Saratoga 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 Clara County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Saratoga
Disasters that paid out in Saratoga itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Saratoga), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$287K to the City of Saratoga for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides26 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$394K to the City of Saratoga for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$66K to the City of Saratoga for repairs
Santa Clara County has had 19 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Clara County, 2002–2020.
Old photos of Saratoga after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Saratoga archive →Saratoga and its neighbors
Saratoga is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monte Sereno | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Los Gatos | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Campbell | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Cupertino | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Saratoga | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 11 |
| San Jose | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 389 |
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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga
Is Saratoga at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Saratoga has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #502 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (56%) and river and rain flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Saratoga flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Saratoga since 1980, $70K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).
Is Saratoga 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 Clara County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Saratoga?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Saratoga’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 Saratoga?
By FEMA money that reached Saratoga, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 26 households applied for aid, $54K approved, and $394K to the City of Saratoga for repairs. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $18K.
Is Saratoga at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Saratoga’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Saratoga.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Saratoga’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.