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Yuba County, California

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 58highest risk in California
$46Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 20homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Yuba County, California has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $46 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $568 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2023 (severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,271 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.3 million on 320 claims here, including $6.0 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 Yuba County

$24.9 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.
$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 65 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Wildfire

Moderate
$7.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 190 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.8
$25M
DroughtHigh99.0
$8M
WildfireModerate96.8
$7M
EarthquakeLow90.1
$6M
Heat waveLow54.1
$476K
LightningLow40.0
$169K
TornadoVery Low14.9
$150K
LandslideModerate89.1
$55K
Strong windVery Low4.6
$33K
HailVery Low7.4
$22K
Winter weatherVery Low9.5
$8K
AvalancheVery Low22.7
$54
Volcanic activityVery Low56.0
$22

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 Yuba County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire8
Flood7
Severe Storm6
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Freezing1

Most recent

Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergency
Oct 16, 2020WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2020Bear FireFire management
Aug 22, 2020WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 10, 2017WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2017Cascade FireFire management
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Potential Failure of The Emergency Spillway At Oroville LakeEmergency
Show all 26
Aug 15, 2009Yuba FireFire management
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Ca-Wildfires-08/25/1999Emergency
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
Sep 29, 1988WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 1988

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 31 storm reports in Yuba County since 1988, with 3 deaths and 7 injuries and about $27 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on December 17, 1992.

4tornadoes
1hail reports, largest 1 inches
5damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 17, 1992F1–0 / 0
Oct 22, 2012EF1Marysville Arpt0 / 0
Mar 21, 2018EF0Arboga0 / 0
Oct 22, 2012EF0Browns Vly0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 27, 1997WildfireCountywide$15M
Jan 1, 2006FloodCountywide$5M
Oct 16, 1999WildfireMarysville$4M
Sep 16, 2019Thunderstorm WindMarysville$3M
Mar 22, 2018FloodMarysville$1M
Dec 17, 1992Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 21, 2025. 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 Yuba County

Check your address flood zone ›
4.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,271 policies)
28.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.3 millionpaid on 320 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $6 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 Yuba County

$412,300median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8%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; 30,661 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
Placer CountyModerate24
Butte CountyModerate37
Nevada CountyModerate21
Sutter CountyModerate18
Plumas CountyModerate21
Sierra CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Yuba County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Yuba County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Yuba County, about $24.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $7.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Yuba County had?

Yuba County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in March 2023.

Is Yuba County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Yuba County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 20 homes in Yuba 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 Yuba County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Yuba County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on December 17, 1992. The weather service has also logged 1 hail reports and 12 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.