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Glenn County, California

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

Relatively Low overall risk
53rd of 58highest risk in California
$41Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 30homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Glenn County, California has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are drought, earthquakes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $41 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,416 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe winter storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 30 homes here carry federal flood insurance (319 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.4 million on 195 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 1998.

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

Top risks in Glenn County

$20.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 85 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Earthquake

Moderate
$9.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$6.5 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh99.5
$21M
EarthquakeModerate92.5
$10M
Inland floodingLow42.3
$7M
WildfireModerate91.8
$2M
Heat waveLow74.8
$1M
LightningVery Low19.9
$84K
TornadoVery Low8.8
$65K
LandslideLow86.7
$47K
HailVery Low6.0
$20K
Strong windVery Low2.8
$17K
Winter weatherVery Low1.3
$173
AvalancheVery Low14.9
$23
Volcanic activityVery Low51.5
$17

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm7
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Freezing1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 13, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergency
May 17, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 9, 1998Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Show all 19
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud FlowsMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 16, 1970Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Glenn County since 1953, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 19, 1953.

11tornadoes
8hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
3damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 19, 1953F2–0 / 0
Apr 17, 1993F1Willows0 / 0
May 25, 2011EF1Willows0 / 0
May 25, 2011EF1Artois0 / 0
Mar 26, 2014EF1Bayliss0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 1, 2023FloodCapay$5M
Mar 4, 2023FloodChrome$600K
Apr 17, 1993TornadoWillows$550K
May 25, 2011TornadoWillows$550K
Feb 4, 2024FloodWillows Glenn Co Arp$395K
May 25, 2011TornadoArtois$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 26, 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 Glenn County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (319 policies)
23.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.4 millionpaid on 195 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $1.2 million 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 Glenn County

$352,400median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.6%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; 11,073 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
Butte CountyModerate37
Mendocino CountyHigh30
Lake CountyModerate33
Tehama CountyModerate23
Colusa CountyModerate17

Common questions about Glenn County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Glenn County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Glenn County, about $20.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $9.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Glenn County had?

Glenn County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2024.

Is Glenn County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 53rd 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 Glenn County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 30 homes in Glenn 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 Glenn County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Glenn County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 19, 1953. The weather service has also logged 8 hail reports and 22 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.