Natural hazards · Monterey

Monterey, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Monterey comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1995. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Monterey?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Monterey to be higher than in 63% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes64%Inland flooding30%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Monterey faces

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

Earthquakes

64% of expected damage

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

Inland flooding

30% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 27% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningTsunamis

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsCold 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 Monterey flood?

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

14paid claims since 1995

$2.7Mpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19952026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 claims, $26K

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

Insurance rates: Monterey County.

Disasters that hit Monterey

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MontereyDeclared for Monterey County only

2024

Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$194K to the City of Monterey for repairs

2023

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

139 households applied for aid $323K aid approved $367K to the City of Monterey for repairs

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

41 households applied for aid $52K aid approved $250K to the City of Monterey for repairs

2020

Wildfires

422 households applied for aid $66K aid approved $7K to the City of Monterey for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$510K to the City of Monterey for repairs

2011

Tsunami Waves

$4K to the City of Monterey for repairs

Monterey County has had 30 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Monterey

Monterey and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Del Rey Oaksmostly inland floodingVery high

Seasidemostly earthquakesVery high

Montereymostly earthquakesHigh

Pacific Grovemostly earthquakesModerate

Del Monte Forestmostly earthquakesLow

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. Monterey covers 8 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Monterey’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Monterey. 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 Monterey total about $16.1M 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.