El Dorado County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
El Dorado County, California has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $124 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $651 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (244 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.0 million on 207 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in El Dorado County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 91.7 | $56M | ||
| Wildfire | 99.7 | $55M | ||
| Earthquake | 91.6 | $8M | ||
| Avalanche | 85.8 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 68.0 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 77.1 | $933K | ||
| Lightning | 69.0 | $577K | ||
| Winter weather | 85.4 | $345K | ||
| Landslide | 97.0 | $336K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.7 | $198K | ||
| Tornado | 13.7 | $143K | ||
| Hail | 18.9 | $81K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 60.6 | $40 |
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 very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included El Dorado County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1972
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 239 storm reports in El Dorado County since 1972, with 12 deaths and 2 injuries and about $29.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on December 24, 2015 near Clarksville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 2015 | EF1 | Clarksville | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 23, 2010 | EF1 | Latrobe | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1972 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2015 | EF0 | Fallen Leaf | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 18, 2020 | EF0 | Dugan | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 1997 | Flash Flood | American River | $10M |
| Feb 21, 2017 | Debris Flow | Pacific | $7M |
| Jan 24, 1997 | Flash Flood | American River | $5M |
| Jan 1, 2006 | Flood | Countywide | $3M |
| Dec 31, 2005 | Flood | South Lake Tahoe | $1M |
| Dec 24, 2015 | Tornado | Clarksville | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 El Dorado 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 El Dorado 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; 94,653 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento County | 21 | |
| Placer County | 24 | |
| Douglas County, NV | 23 | |
| Amador County | 19 | |
| Alpine County | 13 |
Cities in El Dorado County
Common questions about El Dorado County
What is the biggest natural hazard in El Dorado County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in El Dorado County, about $55.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $55.2 million.
How many federal disasters has El Dorado County had?
El Dorado County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.
Is El Dorado County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 37th 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 El Dorado County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in El Dorado 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 El Dorado County had?
NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in El Dorado County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on December 24, 2015 near Clarksville. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 54 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.