Natural hazards · Norwalk

Norwalk, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Norwalk comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1998. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Norwalk?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Norwalk to be higher than in 90% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes61%Inland flooding38%Everything else1%

By hazard

What Norwalk faces

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

Earthquakes

61% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

38% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Norwalk flood?

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

2paid claims since 1998

$8Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19982026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 1 claim, $6K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Norwalk 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 Norwalk

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NorwalkDeclared for Los Angeles County only

2025

Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds

192 households applied for aid $73K aid approved

2024

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

$8K to the City of Norwalk for repairs

2020

Wildfires

14 households applied for aid

2018

Wildfires

1 household applied for aid

2017

Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows

1 household applied for aid

2005

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

$10K to the City of Norwalk for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

58 households applied for aid $19K aid approved $85K to the City of Norwalk for repairs

2003

Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T

55 households applied for aid $17K aid approved

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

Around Norwalk

Norwalk and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Norwalkmostly earthquakesVery high

Santa Fe Springsmostly earthquakesVery high

Cerritosmostly earthquakesVery high

Bellflowermostly earthquakesVery high

Downeymostly 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. Norwalk covers 22 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Norwalk’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Norwalk. 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 Norwalk total about $46.0M 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.