Natural hazards · La Mirada

La Mirada, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in La Mirada comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1979. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is La Mirada?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in La Mirada to be higher than in 91% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes55%Inland flooding44%Everything else1%

By hazard

What La Mirada faces

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

Earthquakes

55% of expected damage

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

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesWildfireAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 La Mirada flood?

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

7paid claims since 1979

$70Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 claims, $9K

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. La Mirada isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.

Disasters that hit La Mirada

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into La MiradaDeclared for Los Angeles County only

2025

Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds

74 households applied for aid $770 aid approved

2020

Wildfires

9 households applied for aid

2007

Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows

1 household applied for aid

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

9 households applied for aid

2003

Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T

5 households applied for aid $4K aid approved

Los Angeles County has had 74 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often fires and floods.

Around La Mirada

La Mirada and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Buena Parkmostly earthquakesVery high

South Whittiermostly earthquakesVery high

La Miradamostly earthquakesVery high

Santa Fe Springsmostly earthquakesVery high

Fullertonmostly earthquakesVery high

East Whittiermostly earthquakesVery high

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. La Mirada covers 11 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to La Mirada’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of La Mirada. 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 La Mirada total about $35.6M 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.