Photo: California Health and Human Services Agency · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Yountville faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yountville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #562 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (34%). 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 Yountville 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 Yountville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yountville, and Yountville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 34%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D #562 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Yountville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Yountville has more expected damage per building than 66% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Yountville: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yountville flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yountville, from FEMA’s records: 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm1 claim · $9K
Yountville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Napa County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yountville
Disasters that paid out in Yountville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Yountville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Wildfires36 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2014Earthquake37 households applied for aid$61K aid approved$493K to the City of Yountville for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides1 households applied for aid$69K to the City of Yountville for repairs
Napa County has had 25 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 9 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Napa County, 2008–2020.
Old photos of Yountville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yountville archive →Get ready for what Yountville 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 Yountville
Is Yountville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yountville has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #562 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (34%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yountville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Yountville since 1982, $122K in all, or 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).
Is Yountville 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 Napa County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Yountville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yountville’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 Yountville?
By FEMA money that reached Yountville, Earthquake (2014): 37 households applied for aid, $61K approved, and $493K to the City of Yountville for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Yountville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Yountville’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yountville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yountville’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.