Natural hazards · Newport Beach

Newport Beach, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Newport Beach comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 167 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Newport Beach?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Newport Beach to be higher than in 79% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes49%Inland flooding41%Coastal flooding9%Everything else2%

By hazard

What Newport Beach faces

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

Earthquakes

49% of expected damage

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

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Coastal flooding

9% of expected damage

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

Lower here

TornadoesHailHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtTsunamis

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesAvalanchesVolcanic 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 Newport Beach flood?

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

167paid claims since 1978

$1.9Mpaid to owners

8homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 32 claims, $358K
Winter storm: 2 claims, $6K
California Atmospheric River: 1 claim, $72K

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

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Newport Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Orange County.

Disasters that hit Newport Beach

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Newport BeachDeclared for Orange County only

2017

Wildfires

68 households applied for aid $500 aid approved

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$132K to the City of Newport Beach for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows

$182K to the City of Newport Beach for repairs

2007

Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows

1 household applied for aid

2005

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

$16K to the City of Newport Beach for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

6 households applied for aid $6K aid approved $189K to the City of Newport Beach for repairs

Orange County has had 36 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often fires and floods.

Around Newport Beach

Newport Beach and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Irvinemostly inland floodingVery high

Costa Mesamostly earthquakesVery high

Newport Beachmostly earthquakesHigh

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. Newport Beach covers 21 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Newport Beach’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Newport 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 Newport Beach total about $77.9M 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.