San Francisco, California: natural disaster risk
How exposed San Francisco is to floods, storms and other hazards, from FEMA and NOAA records for San Francisco County.
San Francisco is a city of 830,235 people in San Francisco County, California. FEMA's National Risk Index rates San Francisco County very high for natural hazards overall, higher than most of the US. The costliest hazards there are earthquake, inland flooding and tsunami, with about $853 million in expected losses a year across the county. The weather service has logged 137 storm reports in the county since 1982, including 0 tornadoes and 98 floods. About 0.1% of homes in the county carry federal flood insurance.
Risk figures are for San Francisco County. FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; NOAA Storm Events; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in San Francisco
Full San Francisco County report ›- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
All hazards
| Hazard | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | $662M | |
| Inland flooding | $178M | |
| Tsunami | $6M | |
| Heat wave | $5M | |
| Landslide | $829K | |
| Tornado | $652K | |
| Coastal flooding | $638K | |
| Drought | $488K | |
| Lightning | $104K | |
| Strong wind | $74K | |
| Hail | $62K | |
| Wildfire | $13K |
Homes in San Francisco
Older homes and mobile homes usually take more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes. Ask about roof age, flood history and retrofits before you buy or rent.
Other cities in California
All ›Common questions about San Francisco
Is San Francisco safe from natural disasters?
San Francisco is in San Francisco County, which FEMA's National Risk Index rates very high overall, higher than most of the US. The biggest hazards are earthquake, inland flooding, tsunami. No place is free of risk, so check the flood map and insurance for any home you consider.
What natural disasters happen in San Francisco?
By expected yearly losses in San Francisco County, the top hazards are earthquake (Very High), inland flooding (High), tsunami (Moderate). San Francisco County has been part of 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events.
Does San Francisco get tornadoes?
Tornadoes are rare here. NOAA has no county tornado reports for San Francisco County since 1950.
Do I need flood insurance in San Francisco?
Standard home insurance does not cover floods. In San Francisco County, about 0.1% of homes have federal flood insurance, and FEMA rates inland flooding risk high. Check the FEMA flood map for your address and get a quote even outside a high-risk zone.