Natural hazards · Irvine

Irvine, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Irvine comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1983. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Irvine?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Irvine to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding63%Earthquakes33%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Irvine faces

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

Inland flooding

63% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

33% of expected damage

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

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold 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 Irvine flood?

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

29paid claims since 1983

$168Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19832026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 15 claims, $38K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 05% off flood insurance. Irvine is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Orange County.

Disasters that hit Irvine

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into IrvineDeclared for Orange County only

2017

Wildfires

162 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$199K to the City of Irvine for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows

$68K to the City of Irvine for repairs

2007

Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows

17 households applied for aid $25K to the City of Irvine for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

22 households applied for aid $1K aid approved $216K to the City of Irvine for repairs

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

Around Irvine

Irvine and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Irvinemostly inland floodingVery high

Tustinmostly inland floodingVery high

Santa Anamostly earthquakesVery high

Costa Mesamostly earthquakesVery high

Lake Forestmostly inland floodingVery high

Laguna Hillsmostly inland floodingVery high

Laguna Woodsmostly inland floodingVery high

Newport Beachmostly earthquakesHigh

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. Irvine covers 48 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Irvine’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Irvine. 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 Irvine total about $188M 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.