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Solano County, California

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

Relatively High overall risk
21st of 58highest risk in California
$292Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Solano County, California has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 97% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $292 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $645 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,696 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 594 claims here, including $4.3 million for floods in 2005.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Solano County

$141 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.
$128 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$11.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 67 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh97.4
$141M
EarthquakeHigh99.0
$128M
DroughtHigh99.3
$12M
Coastal floodingHigh82.8
$4M
WildfireModerate94.5
$3M
Heat waveLow77.0
$1M
LandslideHigh98.4
$894K
TornadoLow34.1
$722K
LightningModerate60.3
$380K
Strong windLow17.7
$172K
TsunamiVery Low15.4
$101K
HailVery Low18.1
$71K
Winter weatherVery Low4.3
$3K
Volcanic activityVery Low70.0
$108
AvalancheVery Low1.5
$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 Solano County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Fire7
Severe Storm7
Earthquake2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergency
Aug 22, 2020WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 18, 2020Lnu Lightning Fire ComplexFire management
Oct 10, 2017WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2017Atlas FireFire management
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2015Wragg FireFire management
Show all 28
Sep 11, 2014EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jun 22, 2008Wild FireFire management
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 9, 1998Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud FlowsMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Oct 18, 1989Loma Prieta EarthquakeMajor disaster
Sep 29, 1988WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1982Severe Storms, Flood, Mudslides & High TideMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Feb 8, 1973Severe Storms, High Tides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1981

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Solano County since 1981, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $15.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on April 7, 2011 near Rockville.

4tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
1damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 7, 2011EF0Rockville0 / 0
Sep 18, 1989F0–0 / 0
May 12, 1998F0Travis AFB0 / 0
Jan 11, 2005F0Vacaville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 1, 2006FloodCountywide$15M
May 29, 1997WildfireSuisun City$150K
Jan 19, 2010HailVacaville Nut Tree$100K
Feb 11, 2000Heavy RainVallejo$50K
Apr 7, 2011TornadoRockville$26K
Feb 11, 2000Heavy RainVallejo$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 10, 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 Solano County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,696 policies)
25.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$10.9 millionpaid on 594 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $4.3 million 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 Solano County

$617,700median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.5%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; 164,693 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
Sacramento CountyHigh21
Contra Costa CountyVery High19
Sonoma CountyHigh33
Marin CountyHigh24
Yolo CountyModerate20
Napa CountyHigh37

Common questions about Solano County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Solano County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Solano County, about $141 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $128 million.

How many federal disasters has Solano County had?

Solano County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.

Is Solano County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 21st 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 Solano County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Solano 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 Solano County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Solano County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on April 7, 2011 near Rockville. The weather service has also logged 6 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.