Natural hazards · McFarland

McFarland, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in McFarland comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1978. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is McFarland?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in McFarland to be higher than in 57% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding43%Earthquakes27%Heat waves27%Everything else3%

By hazard

What McFarland faces

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

Inland flooding

43% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

27% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Heat waves

27% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailWildfireStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesLandslidesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 McFarland flood?

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

23paid claims since 1978

$150Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 22 claims, $147K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Kern County.

Disasters that hit McFarland

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into McFarlandDeclared for Kern County only

2023

Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$36K to the City of McFarland for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows

$93K to the City of McFarland for repairs

Kern County has had 37 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often fires 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. McFarland covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to McFarland’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of McFarland. 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 McFarland total about $738K 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.