Natural Disasters in Pismo Beach, CA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

95.9

Relatively High

Expected Annual Loss

96.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

32.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

93.9

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

28

Public Assistance

$95.2M

Individual Assistance

$1.1M

Most Common Type

Flood

10 declarations

DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →Severe StormApr 2024$519K—
Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →Severe StormApr 2023$11.6M$76K
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →FloodMar 2023——
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides →FloodJan 2023$20.7M$714K
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides →FloodJan 2023——
Covid-19 Pandemic →BiologicalMar 2020$13.3M$136K
Covid-19 →BiologicalMar 2020——
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides →FloodApr 2017$1.4M—
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides →FloodMar 2017$440K—
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides →Severe StormFeb 2017$1.3M—
Chimney Fire →FireAug 2016——
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows →FloodJan 2011$631K—
Severe Freeze →FreezingMar 2007——
Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides →Severe StormFeb 2006$908K—
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →HurricaneSep 2005——
Earthquake →EarthquakeJan 2004$44.4M$209K
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 Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud Flows →Severe StormJan 1995——

Showing 20 of 28 disasters

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

613

Total Claims Paid

$8,616,060

Avg Claim Payout

$14,056

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

27

Federal Funding

$10,404,255

Properties Protected

2

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

3.06

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan11$328,632
205.4: Non Structural Retrofitting/Rehabilitating Public Structures - Seismic3$0
91.2: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - NEW2$204,482
500.1: Flood Control - Floodwall1$2,077,103
403.3: Stormwater Management - Flapgates/Floodgates1$2,395,019

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

Pismo Beach has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are drought, landslide, wildfire. The area has had 28 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (10 declarations). 613 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $95,248,733 in public assistance recovery funding. $1,134,753 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 27 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.