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Stanislaus County, California

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

Relatively High overall risk
22nd of 58highest risk in California
$265Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stanislaus 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 22nd of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $265 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $479 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (718 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.7 million on 242 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Stanislaus County

$94.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$85.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Drought

Very High
$71.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 74 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh96.0
$94M
EarthquakeHigh98.5
$85M
DroughtVery High99.8
$71M
Heat waveModerate96.3
$8M
WildfireModerate95.0
$4M
LightningHigh91.0
$1M
TornadoLow27.8
$462K
HailLow52.2
$298K
Strong windLow28.3
$286K
Winter weatherLow36.8
$41K
LandslideLow86.7
$39K
Volcanic activityVery Low78.2
$316
AvalancheVery Low5.7
$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 Stanislaus County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm5
Freezing2
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergency
Aug 22, 2020WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2020Scu Ligtning Complex FireFire management
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2007Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 18
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
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 66 storm reports in Stanislaus County since 1953, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $3.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 27, 1953.

13tornadoes
4hail reports, largest 0.75 inches
9damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1953F2–0 / 0
Nov 15, 2015EF1Denair0 / 0
Jan 14, 1980F1–1 / 0
Apr 14, 2006F1Modesto0 / 0
Dec 12, 1996F1Oakdale0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 15, 2015TornadoDenair$1M
Apr 2, 2006Heavy RainCountywide$800K
Jan 14, 1980Tornado–$250K
Apr 14, 2006FloodModesto$250K
Mar 21, 2017LightningOakdale$200K
Dec 24, 2015Thunderstorm WindNortheast Modesto$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 21, 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 Stanislaus County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (718 policies)
22.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.7 millionpaid on 242 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $2.3 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 Stanislaus County

$450,100median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.2%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; 185,149 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
Santa Clara CountyVery High23
Alameda CountyVery High22
San Joaquin CountyHigh23
Merced CountyHigh17
Tuolumne CountyModerate20
Calaveras CountyModerate22
Mariposa CountyModerate22

Common questions about Stanislaus County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stanislaus County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stanislaus County, about $94.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $85.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Stanislaus County had?

Stanislaus County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.

Is Stanislaus County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 22nd 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 Stanislaus County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Stanislaus County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 27, 1953. The weather service has also logged 4 hail reports and 21 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.