FEMA Records
25
High volume
California · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Santa Clara County, CA
25 FEMA disaster declarations (1977-2023), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very High. Most common hazard: Severe Storm.
- 25
- FEMA declarations
- 16
- Major disasters
- 100
- NRI risk · Very High
- Severe Storm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Santa Clara County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 25 declarations, more than 71% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 12% below the California county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 1%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 1%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Very High
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 25
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 1,630
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Fire Management Assistance (FM) records, which are not presidential disaster declarations, alongside Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 06085 · Santa Clara County 25 declarations · rank 843/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-HIGH · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-BELOW
- DECL-HEAVY 25
- MAJOR-MID 64%
- RANK-LOWER #843
- PHOTO-FINISH Jefferson
- NRI-HIGH Very High
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Severe Storm
- VS-ST-BELOW -12%
Nearest declaration peer: Jefferson, AR (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · California state profile
Santa Clara County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Santa Clara County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Benton · near 25
Benton · near
25 declarations
- Jefferson · near 25
Jefferson · near
25 declarations
- Lafayette · near 25
Lafayette · near
25 declarations
- Santa Clara · this county 25
Santa Clara · this county
25 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Santa Clara County carries 25 FEMA declaration records, ranked 843 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Santa Clara County ranks in the national declaration registry
Santa Clara County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Santa Clara County
25 Top 29% higher than 71% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Santa Clara County's FEMA Risk Index score
What does Santa Clara County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 1,630 claims and $24.6M in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $15.1K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
Start with the state benchmark: a California county averages 28.5 federal declaration records, while Santa Clara County has 25. The gap is 12% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 99.7/100 (Very High). Expected Annual Loss is rated Very High (roughly $2.0B in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Very Low and community resilience Relatively High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Earthquake stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Very High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at roughly once every 5 years here.
65 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Santa Clara County, CA · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) High
18/30
25 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.2x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
11/25
25 declarations (0.9x state county average of 29)
Major Disaster Share High
16/25
16 of 25 declarations are major disasters (64%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
9 different disaster types declared in Santa Clara County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Santa Clara County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
64%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
100
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Santa Clara County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Very High | roughly once every 5 years |
| Riverine Flooding | Very High | an average of 2.1 times per year |
| Landslide | Relatively High | an average of 65 times per year |
| Drought | Relatively High | 64 modeled event-days per year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 8 modeled event-days per year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 171 years |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively High | roughly once every 1 years |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | roughly once every 9 years |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | an average of 3.8 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | roughly once every 24 years |
| Tsunami | Very Low | roughly once every 3 years |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | roughly once every 5,000 years |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | roughly once every 32 years |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | an average of 1.1 times per year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Severe Storm 6
Flood 6
Fire 6
Biological 2
Hurricane 1
Freezing 1
Earthquake 1
Coastal Storm 1
Drought 1
What Severe Storm declarations mean here
Severe Storm is the most frequent declaration type on Santa Clara County's record, 24% of its declarations. In FEMA's vocabulary this covers convective weather: thunderstorm straight-line winds, large hail, and the multi-day outbreaks that often carry embedded tornadoes. Activity is heaviest in spring and summer, though the season varies by region.
These events behave differently from a hurricane on paper. Damage tends to be distributed along a storm track rather than concentrated on a coastline, and a declaration typically follows an outbreak that crossed several counties over a few days, not a single point of impact. Because the qualifying threshold is the cost of uninsured public and individual losses rather than storm intensity, two similar storms can produce a declaration in one year and none in another.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 16 64.0%
of all 25 declarations
Emergency - 6 24.0%
of all 25 declarations
Fire Management - 3 12.0%
of all 25 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | |
| 2020 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1 | |
| 1997 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 2 | |
| 1991 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 1 | |
| 1986 | 1 | |
| 1985 | 1 | |
| 1983 | 1 | |
| 1982 | 1 | |
Show 1 earlier declaration years
| 1977 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 25 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 25 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4699 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2023-04-03 |
| 3592 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | EM | Flood | 2023-03-10 |
| 4683 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2023-01-14 |
| 3591 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES | EM | Flood | 2023-01-09 |
| 4558 | WILDFIRES | DR | Fire | 2020-08-22 |
| 5338 | SCU LIGTNING COMPLEX FIRE | FM | Fire | 2020-08-21 |
| 4482 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-22 |
| 3428 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4308 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2017-04-01 |
| 4301 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2017-02-14 |
| 3287 | WILDFIRES | EM | Fire | 2008-06-28 |
| 2766 | SUMMIT FIRE | FM | Fire | 2008-05-22 |
| 3248 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-13 |
| 2465 | CROY FIRE | FM | Fire | 2002-09-25 |
| 1203 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-02-09 |
| 1155 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, MUD AND LANDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 1997-01-04 |
| 1046 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING LANDSLIDES, MUD FLOW | DR | Severe Storm | 1995-03-12 |
| 1044 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, MUD FLOWS | DR | Severe Storm | 1995-01-10 |
| 894 | SEVERE FREEZE | DR | Freezing | 1991-02-11 |
| 845 | LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE | DR | Earthquake | 1989-10-18 |
Show 5 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 758 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1986-02-21 |
| 739 | GRASS, WILDLANDS, & FOREST FIRES | DR | Fire | 1985-07-18 |
| 677 | COASTAL STORMS, FLOODS, SLIDES & TORNADOES | DR | Coastal Storm | 1983-02-09 |
| 651 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOOD, MUDSLIDES & HIGH TIDE | DR | Flood | 1982-01-07 |
| 3023 | DROUGHT | EM | Drought | 1977-01-20 |
Storm Events in California
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Santa Clara County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind | 4,070 | 13 | 27 | $228.2M |
| Flood | 3,132 | 26 | 25 | $985.1M |
| Heavy Snow | 1,814 | 6 | 0 | $1.6M |
| Dense Fog | 1,605 | 52 | 148 | $2.8M |
| Drought | 1,421 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
1,630
Total Paid
$24.6M
Avg Per Claim
$15.1K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Very High
Score: 99.7/100
Expected Annual Loss
Very High
$2.0B/year
Social Vulnerability
Very Low
Community Resilience
Relatively High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Earthquake Very High
Riverine Flooding Very High
Landslide Relatively High
Drought Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Coastal Flooding Relatively High
Tornado Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Tsunami Very Low
Volcanic Activity Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Winter Weather Very Low
Cold Wave No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Earthquake
Earthquake is the model's clearest example of a hazard with no season and no warning. Its expected loss is driven less by how often shaking occurs than by how much of the building stock predates modern seismic codes, so exposure can be high in places where nothing has happened for a long time.
Worth noting for Santa Clara County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Earthquake carries the highest modeled rating (Very High), while the county's declaration history is led by Severe Storm. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Santa Clara County's closest FEMA peer: Rota Municipality, MP
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Santa Clara County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Santa Clara County shows 25 FEMA declarations, led by Severe Storm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Santa Clara County: 16 of 25 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Santa Clara County: NRI composite 99.7 (Very High).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Santa Clara County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Santa Clara County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 99.7 (Very High).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 25. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Santa Clara County's NFIP claims file (1,630 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Santa Clara County?
The most common disaster type in Santa Clara County is Severe Storm, with 6 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (6), Fire (6), Biological (2).
How does Santa Clara County's FEMA declaration record compare with the California average?
The typical California county has 28.5 FEMA declaration records; Santa Clara County has 25, or 12% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 21% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Santa Clara County received?
Santa Clara County has received 16 major disaster declarations, representing 64% of all 25 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Santa Clara County filed?
Santa Clara County has 1,630 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $24.6M in payments, with an average of $15.1K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Santa Clara County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Santa Clara County was 2020, with 4 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1977 to 2023.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Santa Clara County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Santa Clara County, California has an overall risk score of 99.7 out of 100 (Very High). The county's social vulnerability rating is Very Low and community resilience is Relatively High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Very High, representing $2.0B in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Santa Clara County?
The top hazard flagged by FEMA's NRI for Santa Clara County as of the latest release is Earthquake (risk rating: Very High). Other significant hazards include Riverine Flooding (Very High) and Landslide (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts earthquake here at roughly once every 5 years. FEMA derives these ratings from historical event frequency, the assets exposed, and the community's vulnerability profile.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Santa Clara County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · California profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events