Photo: Thomas from USA · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Victorville faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Victorville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #215 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then earthquakes (40%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Victorville 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
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 Victorville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Victorville, and Victorville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #215 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Victorville’s residents live in 31 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, Victorville has less expected damage per building than 75% of California towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Victorville has higher expected damage per building than 78% (#311 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $43.8M, is the 273th largest of those 400.
Does Victorville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Victorville, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Victorville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: San Bernardino County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Victorville
Disasters that paid out in Victorville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Victorville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides90 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires71 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$27K to the City of Victorville for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$194K to the City of Victorville for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$869 to the City of Victorville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides39 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$150K to the City of Victorville for repairs
Show all 7
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T151 households applied for aid$48K aid approved$28K to the City of Victorville for repairs
San Bernardino County has had 34 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 24 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in San Bernardino County, 2002–2024.
Old photos of Victorville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Victorville archive →Victorville and its neighbors
Victorville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorville | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Hesperia | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Adelanto | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Oak Hills | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | — |
| Apple Valley | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Spring Valley Lake | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Victorville 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.
- 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 Victorville
Is Victorville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Victorville has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #215 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and earthquakes (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Victorville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Victorville since 1978, $16K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Victorville 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 San Bernardino County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Victorville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Victorville’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 Victorville?
By FEMA money that reached Victorville, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows (2010): $194K to the City of Victorville for repairs.
Is Victorville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Victorville’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Victorville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Victorville’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.