Natural hazards · Novato

Novato, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Novato comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 323 claims here since 1980. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Novato?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Novato to be higher than in 89% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding52%Earthquakes44%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Novato faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

44% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtTsunamisVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanches

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 Novato flood?

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

323paid claims since 1980

$3.4Mpaid to owners

41homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 33 claims, $322K
California Atmospheric River: 4 claims, $116K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Marin County.

Disasters that hit Novato

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NovatoDeclared for Marin County only

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$66K to the City of Novato for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$25K to the City of Novato for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

27 households applied for aid $59K aid approved $193K to the City of Novato for repairs

Marin County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Novato

Novato and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Novatomostly inland floodingVery high

Black Point-Green Pointmostly inland floodingVery high

Lucas Valley-Marinwoodmostly inland floodingVery 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. Novato covers 12 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Novato’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Novato. 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 Novato total about $42.3M 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.