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SignalHillPhoto: Mike Greene · CC BY-SA 2.0
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Signal Hill · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Signal Hill faces more hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Signal Hill gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #238 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (69%), then river and rain flooding (31%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1998.

Earthquakes 69%River and rain flooding 31%

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

more than 86%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#238 of 847 in California
Hazard risk
D#238 of 847
in California · higher than 86% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Earthquakes
69% of expected building damage
Flood claims
3
paid since 1998 · $46K
Disasters paid out here
6
of 40 declared for Los Angeles County
By hazard

What Signal Hill faces

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

Earthquakes

69%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

31%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Wildfire Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesWinter stormsIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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 Signal Hill’s grade

Earthquakes are 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Signal Hill, and Signal Hill’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 31% (lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Signal Hill sits
Signal Hill
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #238 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Signal Hill’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Earthquakes69%River and rain flooding31%

The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Signal Hill has less expected damage per building than 72% of California towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.8M a year in losses across Signal Hill: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Signal Hill covers 3 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 Signal Hill flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1998

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Signal Hill, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 2 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims19982010
19982026
Biggest named events
  • The Winter storm1 claim · $12K
  • The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $12K
3
paid claims since 1998
$46K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$15K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Signal Hill 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.
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Signal Hill

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

  1. 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds27 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
  2. 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$33K to the City of Signal Hill for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$21K to the City of Signal Hill for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2008Wildfires2 households applied for aid$550 aid approved
  5. 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides20 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
  6. 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T26 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Signal HillLos Angeles County only

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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Signal Hill archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Signal Hill 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 ↗
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 Signal Hill

Is Signal Hill at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Signal Hill has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #238 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (69%) and river and rain flooding (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Signal Hill flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Signal Hill since 1998, $46K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).

Is Signal Hill 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 Signal Hill?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Signal Hill’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 Signal Hill?

By FEMA money that reached Signal Hill, Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): $33K to the City of Signal Hill for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $12K.

Is Signal Hill at risk from earthquakes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Signal Hill’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Signal Hill.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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