Natural hazards · San Anselmo

San Anselmo, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in San Anselmo comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 230 claims here since 1978. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is San Anselmo?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding66%Earthquakes33%

By hazard

What San Anselmo faces

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

Inland flooding

66% 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 San Anselmo flood?

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

230paid claims since 1978

$11.7Mpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 3 claims, $22K
California Atmospheric River: 1 claim, $10K

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

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

Insurance rates: Marin County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

20homes raised above flood level

11buildings floodproofed

4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit San Anselmo

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into San AnselmoDeclared for Marin County only

2019

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$587K to the Town of San Anselmo for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$136K to the Town of San Anselmo for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$470K to the Town of San Anselmo for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

219 households applied for aid $443K aid approved $1.7M to the Town of San Anselmo for repairs

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

Around San Anselmo

San Anselmo and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

San Anselmomostly inland floodingVery high

Rossmostly inland floodingVery high

San Rafaelmostly earthquakesVery high

Sleepy Hollowmostly inland floodingVery high

Fairfaxmostly 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. San Anselmo covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to San Anselmo’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of San Anselmo. 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 San Anselmo total about $12.1M 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.