Natural hazards · San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in San Juan Capistrano comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1982. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is San Juan Capistrano?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in San Juan Capistrano to be higher than in 95% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding74%Earthquakes17%Wildfire8%

By hazard

What San Juan Capistrano faces

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

Inland flooding

74% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Wildfire

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailHeat wavesLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtTsunamis

Not a risk here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesAvalanchesVolcanic 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 San Juan Capistrano flood?

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

17paid claims since 1982

$188Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

Pineapple Express - Southern: 4 claims, $15K
Winter storm: 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 Juan Capistrano is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Orange County.

Disasters that hit San Juan Capistrano

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into San Juan CapistranoDeclared for Orange County only

2017

Wildfires

21 households applied for aid

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$207K to the City of San Juan Capistrano for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows

$177K to the City of San Juan Capistrano for repairs

2007

Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows

1 household applied for aid

2005

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

$3.2M to the City of San Juan Capistrano for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

12 households applied for aid $18K aid approved $1.1M to the City of San Juan Capistrano for repairs

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

Around San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Rancho Mission Viejomostly wildfiresVery high

San Juan Capistranomostly inland floodingVery high

Mission Viejomostly inland floodingVery high

Dana Pointmostly inland floodingVery high

Ladera Ranchmostly inland floodingHigh

San Clementemostly inland floodingHigh

Laguna Niguelmostly inland floodingHigh

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 Juan Capistrano covers 7 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to San Juan Capistrano’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of San Juan Capistrano. 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 Juan Capistrano total about $39.3M 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.