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Mono County, California

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

Relatively Low overall risk
55th of 58highest risk in California
$17Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$6.9 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.
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 250 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.9
$7M
EarthquakeLow89.0
$5M
WildfireModerate91.2
$2M
AvalancheHigh86.4
$1M
DroughtModerate78.1
$940K
Winter weatherModerate84.7
$306K
LightningLow27.2
$111K
Heat waveVery Low23.4
$96K
Strong windVery Low9.9
$80K
Volcanic activityLow88.3
$12K
LandslideLow74.9
$10K
HailVery Low3.2
$7K
TornadoVery Low2.5
$5K
Cold waveVery Low2.4
$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

Flood7
Severe Storm4
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergency
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Feb 15, 1978Coastal Storms, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

0tornadoes
10hail reports, largest 1 inches
8damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 18, 2015Flash FloodChalfant$300K
Jul 3, 2013Flash FloodBridgeport Bryant Ar$100K
Jul 31, 2021Debris FlowWalker$41K
Sep 1, 2013Flash FloodBenton Hot Spg$40K
Jun 28, 2011FloodBenton Hot Spg$25K
May 19, 2006FloodWalker$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 ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (106 policies)
18.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$384,887paid on 46 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $194,580 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 Mono County

$639,400median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.8%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; 13,676 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
Fresno CountyHigh18
Madera CountyHigh23
Lyon County, NVLow12
Tuolumne CountyModerate20
Douglas County, NVModerate23
Inyo CountyLow14
Mineral County, NVVery Low5
Alpine CountyVery Low13

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.