129 flood insurance claims·$3.9M paid·7 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around San Benito County, California. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flooding in San Benito County is predominantly characterized by standard riverine and general floods rather than flash floods, based on 17 recorded flood events compared to 6 flash flood events over the last 30 years. These events are often driven by large-scale meteorological systems, such as the rapidly intensifying cyclone and atmospheric river combination that struck from February 3rd to the 5th, 2024, causing roadway flooding, downed trees, power outages, and evacuations in flood-prone areas near rivers. Another significant event occurred between January 26th and 29th, 2021, when a tropical Pacific moisture plume brought heavy rain rates, flooding, and debris flows to the region.
NFIP claim history demonstrates that property owners in high-risk zones face the most severe impacts and should pay the closest attention to local flood risk. Specifically, Zone A accounts for the vast majority of claims with 103 filings, an average payout of $45,346, and an average recorded water depth of 9 inches. By comparison, Zone X properties recorded 25 claims with an average payout of $27,359 and an average water depth of 1 inch, while Zone X unshaded recorded 1 claim with an average payout of $7,512 and an average water depth of 1 inch.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
Less than 1% of San Benito County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
104 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 8 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2017, with 39 claims and $1.3M paid, the year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
10 NOAA storm reports from San Benito County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the California flood stories →
18 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 7 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Mar 9, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Feb 21, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Jan 8, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Dec 27, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Jan 3, 2017 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Feb 2, 1998 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
23 since 1996: 6 flash floods and 17 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 4, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Jan 27, 2021 | $250,000 |
| Flood | Jan 27, 2021 | $2.0M |
| Flood | Jan 27, 2021 | $2.5M |
| Flood | Jan 27, 2021 | $3.0M |
| Flood | Jan 27, 2021 | $3.5M |
| Flood | Jan 27, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jan 22, 2017 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Feb 4, 2024. A rapidly intensifying cyclone and atmospheric river combined from February 3rd to the 5th, creating a period of strong winds, heavy rain, and high surf. The entire region saw numerous impacts including roadway flooding, fallen trees, and power outages. Flood prone areas near rivers and along the coast were evacuated. Notable impacts also included pre-emptive closing of state parks, the cancelation of the San Fran…
Flood · Jan 27, 2021. A plume of moisture from the tropical Pacific brought an Atmospheric River to the Bay Area January 26th-29th. This system generated heavy rain rates causing flooding and debris flows over area burn scars as well as 15 to 20 inches of rain in the Santa Lucia Mountains. Mudflows near the River Fire burn scar in Monterey County caused damage to homes, covered roadways, and trapped animals at local ranches. Debris flo…
Flash Flood · Jan 22, 2017. Three storm systems swept through the region between January 18-23. The first occurred on January 18 as a cold front moved through. Heavy rain, widespread flooding, and debris flows were observed.
Flash Flood · Jan 20, 2017. Three storm systems swept through the region between January 18-23. The first occurred on January 18 as a cold front moved through. Heavy rain, widespread flooding, and debris flows were observed.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in San Benito County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.