FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Vineyard than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vineyard gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #24 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then earthquakes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1982.
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 Vineyard 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 Vineyard’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vineyard, and Vineyard’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 22% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B #24 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vineyard’s residents live in 8 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, Vineyard has less expected damage per building than 97% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.9M a year in losses across Vineyard: $9.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vineyard flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vineyard, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern1 claim · $27K
Vineyard isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sacramento County.The storms Vineyard remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Sacramento County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Vineyard itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19956 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow, declared for Sacramento County
- 19972 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Sacramento County has had 19 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 Vineyard after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vineyard archive →Vineyard and its neighbors
Vineyard is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Vineyard 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 Vineyard
Is Vineyard at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vineyard has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #24 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vineyard flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Vineyard since 1982, $164K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (1).
Is Vineyard 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 Sacramento County, 81% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Vineyard?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vineyard’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 Vineyard?
By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 paid, $27K.
Is Vineyard at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Vineyard’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vineyard.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vineyard’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.