Natural hazards · Lake Elsinore

Lake Elsinore, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Lake Elsinore comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 208 claims here since 1978. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Lake Elsinore?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Lake Elsinore to be higher than in 98% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding57%Earthquakes23%Wildfire19%Everything else1%

By hazard

What Lake Elsinore faces

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

Inland flooding

57% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

23% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Wildfire

19% of expected damage

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

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingIce 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 Lake Elsinore flood?

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

208paid claims since 1978

$3.0Mpaid to owners

8homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 claim, $4K

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Riverside County.

Disasters that hit Lake Elsinore

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Lake ElsinoreDeclared for Riverside County only

2019

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$81K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$262K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows

$54K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs

2008

Wildfires

1 household applied for aid

2007

Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows

15 households applied for aid $33K aid approved $11K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows

$114K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

36 households applied for aid $34K aid approved $41K to the City of Lake Elsinore for repairs

2003

Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T

10 households applied for aid $4K aid approved

Riverside County has had 61 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often fires and floods.

Around Lake Elsinore

Lake Elsinore and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lakeland Villagemostly inland floodingVery high

Meadowbrookmostly wildfiresVery high

Lake Elsinoremostly inland floodingVery high

Warm Springsmostly inland floodingVery high

Menifeemostly inland floodingVery high

Wildomarmostly inland floodingVery high

Temescal Valleymostly inland floodingVery high

Canyon Lakemostly inland floodingVery 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. Lake Elsinore covers 11 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Lake Elsinore’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Lake Elsinore. 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 Lake Elsinore total about $60.8M 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.