Natural hazards · Ross

Ross, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ross comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 199 claims here since 1980. 1 federal disaster brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Ross?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ross to be higher than in 98% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding67%Earthquakes33%

By hazard

What Ross faces

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

Inland flooding

67% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

33% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamis

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 Ross flood?

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

199paid claims since 1980

$9.6Mpaid to owners

15homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 5 claims, $36K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (4) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Ross is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Marin County.

Disasters that hit Ross

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RossDeclared for Marin County only

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

83 households applied for aid $142K aid approved $212K to the Town of Ross for repairs

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

Around Ross

Ross and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Rossmostly inland floodingVery high

San Anselmomostly inland floodingVery high

San Rafaelmostly earthquakesVery high

Kentfieldmostly 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. Ross covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Ross’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Ross. 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 Ross total about $5.6M 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.