Photo: VitaleBaby at en.wikipedia · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, California faces more hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, California gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #1,024 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1978.
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 California 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
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 California’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in California, and California’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #1,024 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
California’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, California has more expected damage per building than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across California: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does California flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in California, from FEMA’s records: 14.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
California isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.The storms California remembers
None of the 11 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching California itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19858 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Washington County
- 19967 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Washington County
- 20003 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Washington County has had 11 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 California after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the California archive →California and its neighbors
California is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fallowfield Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| West Pike Run Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Centerville | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Jefferson Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| California | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| West Brownsville | — | not graded yet | |
| Coal Center | — | 101 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Newell | — | 582 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Long Branch | — | 458 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Elco | — | 280 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 California 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.
- 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 California
Is California at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, California has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #1,024 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does California flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in California since 1978, $257K in all, or 14.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is California 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 Washington County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in California?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for California’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is California at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and California’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in California.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where California’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.