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Calaveras County, California

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
42nd of 58highest risk in California
$53Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calaveras County, California has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $53 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,181 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (Gann Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (108 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 74 claims here, including $708,000 for floods in 2022.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Calaveras County

$30.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 85 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$15.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 73 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireHigh99.5
$30M
Inland floodingModerate77.6
$15M
DroughtHigh98.3
$4M
Heat waveModerate84.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow76.7
$1M
Winter weatherHigh91.6
$394K
LightningLow56.1
$251K
LandslideModerate96.6
$200K
Strong windVery Low9.8
$61K
TornadoVery Low8.0
$38K
HailVery Low7.4
$18K
AvalancheVery Low35.1
$138
Volcanic activityVery Low59.3
$24

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Calaveras County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Fire7
Flood5
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 4, 2026Gann FireFire management
Sep 3, 20252-7 FireFire management
Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 1, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2015Valley Fire and Butte FireMajor disaster
Show all 22
Sep 10, 2015Butte FireFire management
Mar 8, 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud FlowsMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 3, 2004Ca-Pattison Fire-09-03-2004Fire management
Aug 7, 2004Ca-Calaveras Complex-08-07-2004Fire management
Feb 9, 1998Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disaster
Aug 29, 1992Old Gulch & Fountain FiresMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1980

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Calaveras County since 1980 and about $8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on January 10, 2023 near Felix.

2tornadoes
3hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
5damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 10, 2023EF1Felix0 / 0
Jul 29, 1980n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 9, 2017FloodWest Pt$7M
Feb 14, 2019FloodSan Andreas Arpt$500K
Sep 9, 1999WildfireWest Pt$290K
Dec 31, 2022FloodCamp Seco$100K
Feb 9, 1999Flash FloodBummervile$20K
Mar 11, 2023Flash FloodCopperopolis$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 21, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Calaveras County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (108 policies)
36.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 74 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $708,198 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Calaveras County

$457,200median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 27,683 housing units.

Compare in California

All 58 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Los Angeles CountyVery HighEarthquake
San Diego CountyVery HighInland flooding
Orange CountyVery HighEarthquake
Riverside CountyVery HighInland flooding
San Bernardino CountyVery HighInland flooding
Santa Clara CountyVery HighEarthquake
Alameda CountyVery HighEarthquake
Sacramento CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
San Joaquin CountyHigh23
Stanislaus CountyHigh18
Tuolumne CountyModerate20
Amador CountyLow19
Alpine CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Calaveras County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calaveras County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Calaveras County, about $30.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $15.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Calaveras County had?

Calaveras County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Gann Fire in August 2026.

Is Calaveras County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 42nd highest of 58 in California. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Calaveras County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Calaveras County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Calaveras County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Calaveras County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on January 10, 2023 near Felix. The weather service has also logged 3 hail reports and 25 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.