Siskiyou County, California
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Siskiyou County, California has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and drought. FEMA estimates about $57 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,297 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2023 (Tropical Storm Hilary). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (181 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $470,000 on 67 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Siskiyou 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 90.9 | $31M | ||
| Wildfire | 98.6 | $14M | ||
| Drought | 98.9 | $5M | ||
| Earthquake | 88.2 | $3M | ||
| Volcanic activity | 98.0 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 77.8 | $991K | ||
| Avalanche | 83.2 | $502K | ||
| Winter weather | 74.5 | $118K | ||
| Lightning | 35.3 | $98K | ||
| Hail | 19.8 | $51K | ||
| Landslide | 91.1 | $47K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.8 | $28K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.6 | $26K | ||
| Tornado | 1.9 | $2K |
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 high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Siskiyou County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 92 storm reports in Siskiyou County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $200,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 22, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1958 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greenview | $200K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 2024. 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 Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou 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; 23,088 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, OR | 19 | |
| Shasta County | 39 | |
| Humboldt County | 24 | |
| Josephine County, OR | 23 | |
| Klamath County, OR | 16 | |
| Del Norte County | 18 | |
| Trinity County | 30 | |
| Modoc County | 15 |
Common questions about Siskiyou County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Siskiyou County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Siskiyou County, about $31.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $14.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Siskiyou County had?
Siskiyou County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Hilary in November 2023.
Is Siskiyou County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 40th 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 Siskiyou County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Siskiyou County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 22, 1958. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 30 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.