Natural hazards · Orange

Orange, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Orange comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1992. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Orange?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Orange to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes65%Inland flooding34%

By hazard

What Orange faces

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

Earthquakes

65% of expected damage

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

Inland flooding

34% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold 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 Orange flood?

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

14paid claims since 1992

$181Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19922026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 claims, $2K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 05% off flood insurance. Orange is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Orange County.

Disasters that hit Orange

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OrangeDeclared for Orange County only

2017

Wildfires

169 households applied for aid $1K aid approved $396K to the City of Orange for repairs

2007

Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows

3 households applied for aid $18K to the City of Orange for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

8 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

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

Around Orange

Orange and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Orangemostly earthquakesVery high

Tustinmostly inland floodingVery high

Santa Anamostly earthquakesVery high

Garden Grovemostly earthquakesVery high

Anaheimmostly earthquakesVery high

North Tustinmostly 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. Orange covers 23 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Orange’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Orange. 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 Orange total about $87.9M 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.