Glenn County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 99.5 | $21M | ||
| Earthquake | 92.5 | $10M | ||
| Inland flooding | 42.3 | $7M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.8 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 74.8 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 19.9 | $84K | ||
| Tornado | 8.8 | $65K | ||
| Landslide | 86.7 | $47K | ||
| Hail | 6.0 | $20K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.8 | $17K | ||
| Winter weather | 1.3 | $173 | ||
| Avalanche | 14.9 | $23 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 51.5 | $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
Most recent
Show all 19
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1953 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 1993 | F1 | Willows | 0 / 0 |
| May 25, 2011 | EF1 | Willows | 0 / 0 |
| May 25, 2011 | EF1 | Artois | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 26, 2014 | EF1 | Bayliss | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2023 | Flood | Capay | $5M |
| Mar 4, 2023 | Flood | Chrome | $600K |
| Apr 17, 1993 | Tornado | Willows | $550K |
| May 25, 2011 | Tornado | Willows | $550K |
| Feb 4, 2024 | Flood | Willows Glenn Co Arp | $395K |
| May 25, 2011 | Tornado | Artois | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Butte County | 37 | |
| Mendocino County | 30 | |
| Lake County | 33 | |
| Tehama County | 23 | |
| Colusa County | 17 |
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.