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Tehama County, California

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
41st of 58highest risk in California
$69Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 48homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tehama 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 41st of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $69 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,049 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Park Fire). About 1 in 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance (523 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.6 million on 428 claims here, including $1.9 million for floods in 2014.

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

Top risks in Tehama County

$34.5 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.
$15.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 125 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Earthquake

Moderate
$10.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate90.0
$35M
WildfireHigh98.5
$16M
EarthquakeModerate94.3
$11M
DroughtHigh98.8
$6M
LandslideHigh98.3
$625K
Heat waveLow57.2
$459K
LightningLow39.6
$141K
TornadoVery Low12.9
$96K
Volcanic activityLow92.5
$58K
HailVery Low9.2
$25K
Strong windVery Low4.0
$21K
Winter weatherVery Low2.3
$1K
AvalancheVery Low28.2
$79

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 moderate 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 Tehama County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm5
Fire5
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Freezing1

Most recent

Jul 25, 2024Park FireFire management
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergency
Aug 24, 2021WildfiresMajor disaster
May 17, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 19, 2012Ponderosa FireFire management
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 26, 2005Manton FireFire management
Sep 1, 1999Ca-Wildfires-08/25/1999Emergency
Show all 23
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 3, 1993Severe Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 16, 1970Severe Storms & 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 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 133 storm reports in Tehama County since 1961, with 1 death and 25 injuries and about $572 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 24, 1986.

13tornadoes
26hail reports, largest 3 inches
8damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 24, 1986F2–1 / 0
May 9, 1980F2–0 / 0
Mar 14, 1987F0–0 / 0
Apr 25, 2021EF0Kirkwood0 / 0
Feb 19, 2013EF0Gerber0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 29, 2000WildfireRed Bluff$547M
Jan 1, 2023FloodRed Flat Airstrip$14M
Dec 3, 2014Flash FloodRed Bluff$7M
Sep 24, 1986Tornado–$3M
Oct 1, 2000WildfireRed Bluff$547K
Dec 11, 2014FloodVina$300K

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 Tehama County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (523 policies)
16.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.6 millionpaid on 428 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $1.9 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 Tehama County

$339,600median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.9%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; 27,527 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
Butte CountyModerate37
Shasta CountyModerate39
Mendocino CountyHigh30
Glenn CountyLow19
Plumas CountyModerate21
Trinity CountyLow30

Common questions about Tehama County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tehama County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tehama County, about $34.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $15.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Tehama County had?

Tehama County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Park Fire in July 2024.

Is Tehama County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 41st 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 Tehama County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 48 homes in Tehama 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 Tehama County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Tehama County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 24, 1986. The weather service has also logged 26 hail reports and 67 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.