Natural hazards · Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Manhattan Beach comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1997. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Manhattan Beach?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Manhattan Beach to be higher than in 85% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes53%Inland flooding46%

By hazard

What Manhattan Beach faces

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

Earthquakes

53% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

46% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningTsunamis

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesDroughtAvalanchesVolcanic 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 Manhattan Beach flood?

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

12paid claims since 1997

$135Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19972026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 7 claims, $40K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Manhattan BeachDeclared for Los Angeles County only

2025

Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds

59 households applied for aid $172 aid approved

2020

Wildfires

6 households applied for aid

2017

Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows

1 household applied for aid

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$35K to the City of Manhattan Beach for repairs

2005

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

$1K to the City of Manhattan Beach for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $3K aid approved $41K to the City of Manhattan Beach for repairs

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

Around Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

El Segundomostly earthquakesVery high

Redondo Beachmostly inland floodingVery high

Manhattan Beachmostly earthquakesVery high

Hermosa Beachmostly 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. Manhattan Beach covers 9 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Manhattan Beach’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Manhattan Beach. 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 Manhattan Beach total about $28.5M 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.