Natural hazards · Solvang

Solvang, CA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Solvang comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2011. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Solvang?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Solvang to be higher than in 93% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding67%Earthquakes27%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Solvang 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 · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

27% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Solvang flood?

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

4paid claims since 2011

$197Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

California Atmospheric River: 1 claim, $160K
February California Atmospheric River: 1 claim, $23K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Solvang isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Santa Barbara County.

Disasters that hit Solvang

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SolvangDeclared for Santa Barbara County only

2022

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

35 households applied for aid $48K aid approved $741K to the City of Solvang for repairs

2017

Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows

9 households applied for aid

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$9K to the City of Solvang for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides

10 households applied for aid $7K aid approved $43K to the City of Solvang for repairs

Santa Barbara County has had 35 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and fires.

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. Solvang covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Solvang’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Solvang. 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 Solvang total about $3.4M 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.