Home › California › Siskiyou County

Siskiyou County, California

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
40th of 58highest risk in California
$57Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$31.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$14.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 130 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 74 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate90.9
$31M
WildfireHigh98.6
$14M
DroughtHigh98.9
$5M
EarthquakeLow88.2
$3M
Volcanic activityHigh98.0
$2M
Heat waveLow77.8
$991K
AvalancheModerate83.2
$502K
Winter weatherModerate74.5
$118K
LightningLow35.3
$98K
HailVery Low19.8
$51K
LandslideModerate91.1
$47K
Strong windVery Low5.8
$28K
Cold waveVery Low6.6
$26K
TornadoVery Low1.9
$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

Fire7
Flood6
Severe Storm5
Hurricane2
Drought1

Most recent

Nov 21, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2022Mill FireFire management
Jun 29, 2021Lava FireFire management
Oct 16, 2020WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2020Slater FireFire management
Jul 5, 2018Klamathon FireFire management
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2014Boles FireFire management
Show all 21
Aug 2, 2014Oregon Gulch FireFire management
Mar 8, 2010Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud FlowsMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor 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 3, 1993Severe Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 16, 1970Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

1tornadoes
23hail reports, largest 2 inches
15damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 22, 1958F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 23, 2003Thunderstorm WindGreenview$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 ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (181 policies)
8.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$469,534paid on 67 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $387,620 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 Siskiyou County

$309,500median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.4%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; 23,088 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
Jackson County, ORModerate19
Shasta CountyModerate39
Humboldt CountyHigh24
Josephine County, ORModerate23
Klamath County, ORLow16
Del Norte CountyHigh18
Trinity CountyLow30
Modoc CountyVery Low15

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.