FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Strawberry than in 85% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Strawberry gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #229 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then earthquakes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1978.
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 Strawberry’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Strawberry faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
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 Strawberry’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Strawberry, and Strawberry’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #229 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Strawberry’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, Strawberry has less expected damage per building than 73% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Strawberry: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Strawberry flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Strawberry, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $5K
Strawberry isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marin County.The storms Strawberry remembers
None of the 22 disasters declared for Marin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Strawberry itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19837 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides and Tornadoes, declared for Marin County
- 19822 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19862 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Marin County
Marin County has had 22 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.
Old photos of Strawberry after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Strawberry archive →Strawberry and its neighbors
Strawberry is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Strawberry | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Mill Valley | Dmore damage than 86% | earthquakes | 144 |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 112 |
| Alto | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Corte Madera | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 127 |
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 Strawberry faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- 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 Strawberry
Is Strawberry at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Strawberry has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #229 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and earthquakes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Strawberry flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Strawberry since 1978, $228K in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Strawberry 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 Marin County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Strawberry?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Strawberry’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 Strawberry?
By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Strawberry at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Strawberry’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Strawberry.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Strawberry’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.