Photo: ShakataGaNai · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Susanville than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Susanville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #390 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1990.
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 Susanville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Susanville 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
Wildfire
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 Susanville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Susanville, and Susanville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 13%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #390 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Susanville’s residents live in 5 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, Susanville has less expected damage per building than 54% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.4M a year in losses across Susanville: $8.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Susanville flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Susanville, from FEMA’s records: 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Susanville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lassen County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Susanville
Disasters that paid out in Susanville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Susanville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Wildfires120 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$3K to the City of Susanville for repairs
- 2020Wildfires45 households applied for aid$57K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$57K to the City of Susanville for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$216K to the City of Susanville for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$88K to the City of Susanville for repairs
Lassen County has had 13 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 Lassen County, 2014–2021.
Old photos of Susanville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Susanville archive →Get ready for what Susanville 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.
- 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.
- 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 Susanville
Is Susanville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Susanville has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #390 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Susanville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Susanville since 1990, $878K in all, or 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Susanville 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 Lassen County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Susanville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Susanville’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 Susanville?
By FEMA money that reached Susanville, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2017): $216K to the City of Susanville for repairs.
Is Susanville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Susanville’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Susanville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Susanville’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.