San Diego County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
San Diego 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 7th of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $1.5 billion a year in expected losses, or roughly $467 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 49 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2024 (severe storm and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (6,088 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $48 million on 2,442 claims here, including $20 million for floods in 2024.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in San Diego 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 99.7 | $648M | ||
| Wildfire | 100.0 | $430M | ||
| Earthquake | 99.7 | $426M | ||
| Heat wave | 98.7 | $24M | ||
| Landslide | 99.5 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 64.4 | $2M | ||
| Tsunami | 52.3 | $2M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 72.8 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 80.9 | $829K | ||
| Hail | 77.0 | $825K | ||
| Strong wind | 52.0 | $642K | ||
| Drought | 59.4 | $299K | ||
| Winter weather | 48.3 | $67K | ||
| Hurricane | 8.3 | $1K | ||
| Cold wave | 3.1 | $521 | ||
| Avalanche | 32.2 | $137 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 33.9 | $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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included San Diego County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 49
California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,058 storm reports in San Diego County since 1955, with 51 deaths and 417 injuries and about $1.4 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on March 19, 1991.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1991 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 10, 2000 | F1 | Poway | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1956 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Oct 8, 1961 | F1 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Feb 20, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2003 | Wildfire | Pine Hills | $1B |
| Oct 26, 2003 | Wildfire | Valley Center | $77M |
| Oct 21, 1996 | Wildfire | Harmony Grove | $37M |
| Jan 22, 2024 | Flash Flood | Encanto | $30M |
| Jan 7, 2005 | Heavy Rain | Oceanside | $25M |
| Nov 1, 2003 | Wildfire | Escondido | $22M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 12, 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 Diego 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 Diego 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; 1,250,641 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County | 40 | |
| Riverside County | 64 | |
| Imperial County | 13 |
Common questions about San Diego County
What is the biggest natural hazard in San Diego County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Diego County, about $648 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $430 million.
How many federal disasters has San Diego County had?
San Diego County has been included in 49 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Flooding in February 2024.
Is San Diego County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very High, 7th 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 Diego County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in San Diego 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 Diego County had?
NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in San Diego County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on March 19, 1991. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 495 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.