Photo: Toglenn · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Yucca Valley than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yucca Valley gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #495 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%), then earthquakes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 2003.
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 Yucca Valley 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
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 Yucca Valley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yucca Valley, and Yucca Valley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 41%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #495 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yucca Valley’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, Yucca Valley has more expected damage per building than 58% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.9M a year in losses across Yucca Valley: $13.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yucca Valley flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yucca Valley, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December California Flooding1 claim · $806
Yucca Valley 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yucca Valley
Disasters that paid out in Yucca Valley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Yucca Valley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides16 households applied for aid$11K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Wildfires5 households applied for aid$513 aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T5 households applied for aid$867 aid approved15 flood claims paid that year
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 Yucca Valley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yucca Valley archive →Yucca Valley and its neighbors
Yucca Valley is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Tree | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Yucca Valley | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
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 Yucca Valley 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.
- 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 Yucca Valley
Is Yucca Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yucca Valley has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #495 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%) and earthquakes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yucca Valley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Yucca Valley since 2003, $285K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December California Flooding (1).
Is Yucca Valley 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 Yucca Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yucca Valley’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 Yucca Valley?
By FEMA money that reached Yucca Valley, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 16 households applied for aid, $11K approved. By flood claims, December California Flooding: 1 paid, $806.
Is Yucca Valley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Yucca Valley’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yucca Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yucca Valley’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.