Mariposa County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Mariposa County, California has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, heat waves and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $38 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,233 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (French Fire). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Mariposa County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.0 | $15M | ||
| Heat wave | 98.4 | $11M | ||
| Inland flooding | 70.8 | $8M | ||
| Landslide | 99.5 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 75.5 | $448K | ||
| Earthquake | 67.5 | $433K | ||
| Lightning | 69.2 | $302K | ||
| Winter weather | 77.1 | $113K | ||
| Strong wind | 10.8 | $50K | ||
| Tornado | 6.4 | $18K | ||
| Hail | 6.6 | $12K | ||
| Avalanche | 40.5 | $171 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 58.6 | $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 high 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 Mariposa 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 1972
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 250 storm reports in Mariposa County since 1972, with 9 deaths and 8 injuries and about $18 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on October 15, 1972.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 1972 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 14, 2006 | F0 | Hornitos | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 2, 2019 | EF0 | Ben Hur | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2001 | Wildfire | Mariposa | $5M |
| Aug 18, 2001 | Wildfire | Coulterville | $4M |
| Oct 1, 2003 | Wildfire | Yosemite Vlg | $3M |
| Mar 22, 2018 | Flash Flood | Coulterville | $2M |
| Jul 8, 2003 | Wildfire | El Portal | $1M |
| Jul 3, 2003 | Wildfire | Mariposa | $810K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 17, 2025. 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 Mariposa 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 Mariposa 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; 9,836 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Stanislaus County | 18 | |
| Merced County | 17 | |
| Madera County | 23 | |
| Tuolumne County | 20 |
Common questions about Mariposa County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Mariposa County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Mariposa County, about $15.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $11.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Mariposa County had?
Mariposa County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was French Fire in July 2024.
Is Mariposa County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 43rd 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 Mariposa County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Mariposa County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Mariposa County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on October 15, 1972. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 105 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.