Calaveras County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.5 | $30M | ||
| Inland flooding | 77.6 | $15M | ||
| Drought | 98.3 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 84.1 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 76.7 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 91.6 | $394K | ||
| Lightning | 56.1 | $251K | ||
| Landslide | 96.6 | $200K | ||
| Strong wind | 9.8 | $61K | ||
| Tornado | 8.0 | $38K | ||
| Hail | 7.4 | $18K | ||
| Avalanche | 35.1 | $138 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 59.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 22
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2023 | EF1 | Felix | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 1980 | n/a | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 9, 2017 | Flood | West Pt | $7M |
| Feb 14, 2019 | Flood | San Andreas Arpt | $500K |
| Sep 9, 1999 | Wildfire | West Pt | $290K |
| Dec 31, 2022 | Flood | Camp Seco | $100K |
| Feb 9, 1999 | Flash Flood | Bummervile | $20K |
| Mar 11, 2023 | Flash Flood | Copperopolis | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | Earthquake | |
| San Diego County | Inland flooding | |
| Orange County | Earthquake | |
| Riverside County | Inland flooding | |
| San Bernardino County | Inland flooding | |
| Santa Clara County | Earthquake | |
| Alameda County | Earthquake | |
| Sacramento County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| San Joaquin County | 23 | |
| Stanislaus County | 18 | |
| Tuolumne County | 20 | |
| Amador County | 19 | |
| Alpine County | 13 |
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.