Photo: Jessie Terwilliger from Beaumont, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Yucaipa than almost anywhere in the U.S., led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yucaipa gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #785 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (38%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 8 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 Yucaipa faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Yucaipa’s grade
Earthquakes are 38% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yucaipa, and Yucaipa’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 36%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #785 of 847 in California; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yucaipa’s residents live in 13 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, Yucaipa has more expected damage per building than 93% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $69.8M a year in losses across Yucaipa: $59.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yucaipa flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yucaipa, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $4K
Yucaipa 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yucaipa
Disasters that paid out in Yucaipa itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Yucaipa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$84K aid approved
- 2020Wildfires34 households applied for aid$3K to the City of Yucaipa for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$20K to the City of Yucaipa for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows$73K to the City of Yucaipa for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$59K to the City of Yucaipa for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T3 households applied for aid$783 aid approved
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 Yucaipa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yucaipa archive →Yucaipa and its neighbors
Yucaipa is 3rd of the 4 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 Yucaipa faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Yucaipa
Is Yucaipa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yucaipa has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #785 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (38%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yucaipa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Yucaipa since 1995, $77K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).
Is Yucaipa 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 Yucaipa?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yucaipa’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 Yucaipa?
By FEMA money that reached Yucaipa, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 24 households applied for aid, $84K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $4K.
Is Yucaipa at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (38%), and Yucaipa’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yucaipa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yucaipa’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.