Natural hazards · Alameda

Alameda, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Alameda comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 34 claims here since 1983. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Alameda?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Alameda to be higher than in 96% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes65%Inland flooding31%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Alameda faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Earthquakes

65% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

31% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtTsunamisVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesAvalanches

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Alameda flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Alameda, from FEMA’s records.

34paid claims since 1983

$724Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19832026

Biggest named events

California Atmospheric River: 25 claims, $610K
Pineapple Express - Southern: 3 claims, $33K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Alameda is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Alameda County.

Disasters that hit Alameda

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Alameda itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Alameda.

Brought FEMA money into AlamedaDeclared for Alameda County only

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

93 households applied for aid $226K aid approved $72K to the City of Alameda for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

$326K to the City of Alameda for repairs

Alameda County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Alameda

Alameda and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Alamedamostly earthquakesVery high

Oaklandmostly earthquakesVery high

San Franciscomostly earthquakesVery high

Brisbanemostly earthquakesVery high

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Alameda covers 16 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Alameda’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Alameda. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Alameda total about $99.8M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.