Mono County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Mono County, California has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 55th of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,269 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $385,000 on 46 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Mono 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 46.9 | $7M | ||
| Earthquake | 89.0 | $5M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.2 | $2M | ||
| Avalanche | 86.4 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 78.1 | $940K | ||
| Winter weather | 84.7 | $306K | ||
| Lightning | 27.2 | $111K | ||
| Heat wave | 23.4 | $96K | ||
| Strong wind | 9.9 | $80K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 88.3 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 74.9 | $10K | ||
| Hail | 3.2 | $7K | ||
| Tornado | 2.5 | $5K | ||
| Cold wave | 2.4 | $0 |
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 relatively 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 Mono County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1980
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 132 storm reports in Mono County since 1980, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $565,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2015 | Flash Flood | Chalfant | $300K |
| Jul 3, 2013 | Flash Flood | Bridgeport Bryant Ar | $100K |
| Jul 31, 2021 | Debris Flow | Walker | $41K |
| Sep 1, 2013 | Flash Flood | Benton Hot Spg | $40K |
| Jun 28, 2011 | Flood | Benton Hot Spg | $25K |
| May 19, 2006 | Flood | Walker | $20K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 25, 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 Mono 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 Mono 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; 13,676 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno County | 18 | |
| Madera County | 23 | |
| Lyon County, NV | 12 | |
| Tuolumne County | 20 | |
| Douglas County, NV | 23 | |
| Inyo County | 14 | |
| Mineral County, NV | 5 | |
| Alpine County | 13 |
Common questions about Mono County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Mono County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mono County, about $6.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $5.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Mono County had?
Mono County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.
Is Mono County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 55th 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 Mono County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Mono 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 Mono County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Mono County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 23 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.