San Bernardino County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
San Bernardino County, California has a very high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is in the top 1% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.1 billion a year in expected losses, or roughly $952 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 59 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (29 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Bridge Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,919 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $10 million on 864 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in San Bernardino 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 | 99.8 | $960M | ||
| Earthquake | 99.8 | $922M | ||
| Wildfire | 99.9 | $146M | ||
| Landslide | 99.9 | $18M | ||
| Heat wave | 98.4 | $18M | ||
| Strong wind | 97.0 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 78.8 | $4M | ||
| Lightning | 95.2 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 90.9 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 28.3 | $392K | ||
| Avalanche | 78.5 | $144K | ||
| Winter weather | 48.4 | $62K | ||
| Drought | 33.5 | $37K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 31.6 | $3 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included San Bernardino County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 59
California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,625 storm reports in San Bernardino County since 1954, with 38 deaths and 190 injuries and about $1.5 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 7, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 1982 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 25, 1965 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2008 | EF1 | Lcrne Vly Soggy Dry | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 22, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2003 | Wildfire | San Bernardino | $696M |
| Nov 1, 2003 | Wildfire | Hesperia | $279M |
| Dec 19, 2010 | Flood | Mt Baldy | $97M |
| Jan 7, 2005 | Heavy Rain | Devore | $72M |
| Feb 23, 1998 | Flash Flood | Southwest Portion | $50M |
| Oct 21, 2003 | Wildfire | Fontana | $50M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 17, 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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino 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; 743,886 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 86 | |
| Orange County | 40 | |
| Riverside County | 64 | |
| Clark County, NV | 12 | |
| Kern County | 38 | |
| Mohave County, AZ | 13 | |
| Inyo County | 14 | |
| La Paz County, AZ | 5 |
Common questions about San Bernardino County
What is the biggest natural hazard in San Bernardino County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Bernardino County, about $960 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $922 million.
How many federal disasters has San Bernardino County had?
San Bernardino County has been included in 59 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 29 major disasters. The most recent was Bridge Fire in September 2024.
Is San Bernardino County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very High, 3rd 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 San Bernardino County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino County had?
NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in San Bernardino County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 7, 1982. The weather service has also logged 67 hail reports and 999 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.