Main Street Historic District-Winters · Photo: Brian Wickstrom · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Winters faces more hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winters gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #334 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 1995.
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 Winters 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 Winters’ grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winters, and Winters’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 40%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #334 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winters’ residents live in 4 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, Winters has less expected damage per building than 61% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Winters: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Winters flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winters, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Winters isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Yolo County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Winters
Disasters that paid out in Winters itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Winters), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Wildfires43 households applied for aid$65K aid approved
Yolo County has had 16 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Yolo County, 2015–2020.
Old photos of Winters after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winters archive →Get ready for what Winters 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 Winters
Is Winters at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winters has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #334 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 Winters flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Winters since 1995, $9K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Winters 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 Yolo County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Winters?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Winters’ 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 Winters?
By FEMA money that reached Winters, Wildfires (2020): 43 households applied for aid, $65K approved.
Is Winters at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Winters’ rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winters.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winters’ 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.