Natural hazards · Fresno

Fresno, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Fresno comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 84 claims here since 1979. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Fresno?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Fresno to be higher than in 62% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding52%Earthquakes43%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Fresno faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

43% of expected damage

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

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Fresno flood?

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

84paid claims since 1979

$791Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19792026

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

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

Insurance rates: Fresno County.

Disasters that hit Fresno

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into FresnoDeclared for Fresno County only

2023

Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $195K to the City of Fresno for repairs

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$313K to the City of Fresno for repairs

2020

Wildfires

548 households applied for aid $29K aid approved $92K to the City of Fresno for repairs

Fresno County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Fresno

Fresno and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

West Parkmostly droughtHigh

Tarpey Villagemostly inland floodingHigh

Clovismostly inland floodingHigh

Fresnomostly inland floodingHigh

Sunnysidemostly inland floodingModerate

Calwamostly earthquakesModerate

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. Fresno covers 114 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Fresno’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Fresno. 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 Fresno total about $148M 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.