Natural Disasters in Empire, CA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

96.9

Relatively High

Expected Annual Loss

97.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

32.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

33.9

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

20

Public Assistance

$27.5M

Individual Assistance

$5.5M

Most Common Type

Flood

6 declarations

DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →Severe StormApr 2023$4.0M—
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →FloodMar 2023——
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →FloodJan 2023$7.0M—
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides →FloodJan 2023——
Wildfires →FireAug 2020$1.3M—
Scu Ligtning Complex Fire →FireAug 2020——
Covid-19 Pandemic →BiologicalMar 2020$9.2M$5.5M
Covid-19 →BiologicalMar 2020——
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides →FloodApr 2017$5.2M—
Severe Freeze →FreezingMar 2007——
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →Severe StormJun 2006$765K—
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →HurricaneSep 2005——
Severe Winter Storms and Flooding →Severe StormFeb 1998——
Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides →Severe StormJan 1997——
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow →Severe StormMar 1995——
Severe Freeze →FreezingFeb 1991——
Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & Tornadoes →Coastal StormFeb 1983——
Drought →DroughtJan 1977——
Severe Storms & Flooding →FloodJan 1969——
Heavy Rains & Flooding →FloodDec 1964——

Showing 20 of 22 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

242

Total Claims Paid

$4,678,560

Avg Claim Payout

$19,333

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

3

Federal Funding

$391,703

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.53

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
403.3: Stormwater Management - Flapgates/Floodgates1$166,703
91.4: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - NEW 1$225,000
403.6: Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)1$0

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Empire has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are drought, earthquake, heat wave. The area has had 20 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (6 declarations). 242 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $27,500,755 in public assistance recovery funding. $5,527,782 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.