Natural hazards · Jackson

Jackson, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Jackson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 31 claims here since 1982. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Jackson?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Jackson to be higher than in 81% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and avalanches.

Inland flooding40%Avalanches33%Wildfire21%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Jackson faces

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

Inland flooding

40% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Avalanches

33% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 0% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 15 years in the area

Wildfire

21% of expected damage

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

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesDroughtTsunamis

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 Jackson flood?

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

31paid claims since 1982

$1.0Mpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

California Atmospheric River: 6 claims, $549K
Pineapple Express - Southern: 3 claims, $39K

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

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

Insurance rates: Amador County.

Disasters that hit Jackson

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into JacksonDeclared for Amador County only

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

152 households applied for aid $427K aid approved $93K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$455K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$3K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

$2K to the City of Jackson for repairs

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

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. Jackson is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.