Enter any address in Sierra County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sierra County, California has recorded 5 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 6 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, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 9, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 21, 2023 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Aug 14, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 3, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Dec 17, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides | Severe Storm | Dec 28, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 6.80M |
| Flood | Dec 30, 2005 | 1M |
| Flood | Jan 1, 1997 | — |
| Flood | Jan 1, 1997 | — |
Flood — Mar 9, 2023
Strong, even damaging west-southwest winds increased travel hazards especially to high profile trucks but also increased the danger for destructive avalanches across the region. Snow started at all elevations Thursday evening with snow levels rapidly rising Friday morning. Heavy, wet snow (Sierra Nevada Cement) fell across higher elevation areas as snow levels rose to 7000 feet over the region...
Flood — Feb 9, 2017
Two significant waves of precipitation associated with an atmospheric river brought heavy rain and higher elevation (mainly above 6500 feet) snowfall to northeast California. Widespread rainfall totals between 5 and 8 inches were reported between the 6th and 10th, with rainfall and/or liquid equivalent amounts up to between 10 and 16 inches near the northern Sierra crest. The rainfall brought w...
Flood — Jan 1, 1997
Several periods of rain (with snow to unusually low elevations in the mountains) beginning December 20, 1996, set up saturated conditions that finally gave way on the 1st as subtropical air moved in and melted snow up to the 8000-foot level. The moist airmass also left huge amounts of additional rain in the valley, foothills, and mountains with its nearly ideal orographic enhancement conditions...
Flood — Jan 1, 1997
Please see flood summary under Nevada zones from 1/01/97 to 1/17/97.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Sierra 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 Sierra 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.