Natural hazards · Dana Point

Dana Point, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Dana Point comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1988. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Dana Point?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Dana Point to be higher than in 80% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding72%Earthquakes26%Everything else1%

By hazard

What Dana Point faces

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

Inland flooding

72% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

26% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningTsunamis

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesDroughtAvalanchesVolcanic activity

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 Dana Point flood?

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

26paid claims since 1988

$576Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19882026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 6 claims, $31K
California Atmospheric River: 1 claim, $3K
December California Flooding: 1 claim, $64K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Orange County.

Disasters that hit Dana Point

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Dana PointDeclared for Orange County only

2017

Wildfires

12 households applied for aid

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$55K to the City of Dana Point for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows

$114K to the City of Dana Point for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

10 households applied for aid $30K aid approved $175K to the City of Dana Point for repairs

Orange County has had 36 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often fires and floods.

Around Dana Point

Dana Point and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

San Juan Capistranomostly inland floodingVery high

Dana Pointmostly inland floodingVery high

Laguna Beachmostly earthquakesHigh

San Clementemostly inland floodingHigh

Laguna Niguelmostly inland floodingHigh

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. Dana Point covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Dana Point’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Dana Point. 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 Dana Point total about $13.8M 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.