FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Squaw Valley than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Squaw Valley gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #619 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (57%), then river and rain flooding (39%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 stands out about Squaw Valley’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Squaw Valley faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Wildfire
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 Squaw Valley’s grade
Wildfire is 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Squaw Valley, and Squaw Valley’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 39% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #619 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Squaw Valley’s residents live in 2 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, Squaw Valley has more expected damage per building than 73% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Squaw Valley: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Squaw Valley flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Squaw Valley. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Squaw Valley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fresno County.The storms Squaw Valley remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Fresno County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Squaw Valley itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Fresno County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Fresno County, 2016–2020.
Get ready for what Squaw Valley faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Squaw Valley
Is Squaw Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Squaw Valley has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #619 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (57%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Squaw Valley 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 Fresno County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Squaw Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Squaw Valley’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Squaw Valley at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Squaw Valley’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Squaw Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Squaw Valley’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.