On FEMA’s figures, Seaside faces more hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Seaside gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #334 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (54%), then river and rain flooding (46%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1982.
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 Seaside 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 Seaside’s grade
Earthquakes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Seaside, and Seaside’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 46% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
D #334 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Seaside’s residents live in 10 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, Seaside has less expected damage per building than 61% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.8M a year in losses across Seaside: $12.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Seaside flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Seaside, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Seaside isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monterey County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Seaside
Disasters that paid out in Seaside itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Seaside), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides325 households applied for aid$849K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides28 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$231K to the City of Seaside for repairs
- 2020Wildfires34 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$40K to the City of Seaside for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$12K to the City of Seaside for repairs
Monterey County has had 26 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Monterey County, 2008–2020.
Old photos of Seaside after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Seaside archive →Seaside and its neighbors
Seaside is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey | Cmore damage than 70% | earthquakes | 14 |
| Seaside | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Marina | Dmore damage than 90% | earthquakes | — |
| Del Rey Oaks | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sand City | — | 404 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Seaside 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 Seaside
Is Seaside at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Seaside has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #334 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (54%) and river and rain flooding (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Seaside flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Seaside since 1982, $125K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Seaside 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 Monterey County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Seaside?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Seaside’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 Seaside?
By FEMA money that reached Seaside, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 325 households applied for aid, $849K approved.
Is Seaside at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Seaside’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Seaside.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Seaside’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.