Natural hazards · Carmichael

Carmichael, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Carmichael comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1978. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Carmichael?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Carmichael to be higher than in 31% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding75%Earthquakes21%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Carmichael faces

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

Inland flooding

75% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

21% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamis

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 Carmichael flood?

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

44paid claims since 1978

$357Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 claims, $3K
California Atmospheric River: 1 claim, $8K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Carmichael isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Sacramento County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Carmichael

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CarmichaelDeclared for Sacramento County only

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

96 households applied for aid $158K aid approved

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

5 households applied for aid $529 aid approved

Sacramento County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Carmichael

Carmichael and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Arden-Arcademostly inland floodingModerate

Citrus Heightsmostly inland floodingModerate

Rancho Cordovamostly inland floodingLow

Carmichaelmostly inland floodingLow

North Highlandsmostly inland floodingLow

Foothill Farmsmostly inland floodingLow

Fair Oaksmostly inland floodingLow

La Rivieramostly inland floodingVery low

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. Carmichael covers 16 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Carmichael’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to Carmichael. 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 Carmichael total about $13.6M 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.