Enter any address in Modoc County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
1 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Modoc County, California has recorded 14 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 4 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 21, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 13, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 18, 2017 |
| Day Fire | Fire | Aug 1, 2014 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides | Severe Storm | Dec 28, 1996 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow | Severe Storm | Feb 13, 1995 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 3, 2025 | 1.00M |
| Flood | Apr 10, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 9, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 8, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 22, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 8, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 7, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 2, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 8, 2005 | 2.25M |
Flood — Feb 3, 2025
Nearly two days of heavy rain, with amounts of around 1.50 to 2.50 inches, combined with snow melt to produce major flooding on the Pit River near Canby. The peak was the fourth highest on record.
Flood — Apr 10, 2019
Heavy rain (by April standards) combined with snowmelt caused a number of area rivers to flood.
Flood — Apr 9, 2019
Two days of very heavy rainfall (compared to April normals) combined with snowmelt led to areal flooding in northeast California.
Flash Flood — Apr 8, 2019
A storm system moved into the Pacific Northwest and northern California the afternoon and evening of the 8th, which brought bands of rain into the morning hours of the 9th. The heaviest rainfall occurred across the Surprise valley, which lead to flash flooding.
Flood — Feb 22, 2017
Heavy rain combined with snow melt to bring floods to the Pit River in northeast California.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Modoc County, California:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Modoc County, California that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.