Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Plumas County, CA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
06063
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2031-06-08. Plan: Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784), approved 2026-06-09.

Since the plan was approved on 2026-06-09: no new federal declaration.

NOAA Storm Events records since that date: 1 record (data through 2026-06-30).

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($21,791,919 a year), Wildfire ($13,180,493) and Earthquake ($5,145,142).

Repetitive-loss flood properties now: FMA RL 0, SRL 1 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 4.

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2031-06-08
Plan:
Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)
Approved:
2026-06-09
Days to expiry:
1,712

What changed since your last plan (approved 2026-06-09)

New federal declarations:
none
Storm Events records since approval:
1 record (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 1 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 4
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryNotes
Plumas CountyCountyApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712this jurisdiction approved 2026-06-18
Portola cityCityApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712this jurisdiction approved 2026-06-18
Chester Public Utility DistrictSpecial DistrictApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712
Feather River Resource Conservation DistrictConservation DistrictApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712
Gold Mountain Community Services DistrictCommunity Services DistrictApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712this jurisdiction approved 2026-07-21
Indian Valley Community Services DistrictCommunity Services DistrictApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712
Plumas CorporationNatural ResourcesApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712this jurisdiction approved 2026-07-21
Plumas Eureka Community Services DistrictCommunity Services DistrictApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712this jurisdiction approved 2026-06-18
Plumas Fire Safe CouncilFire/EMS DistrictApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712
South Feather Water and Power AgencyWater/Sewer AuthorityApproved, expires 2031-06-08Plumas County (FEMA plan 111784)2026-06-092031-06-081,712

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countWhy this hazard can be left outNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$21,784,276$2,435$5,208$21,791,91920
2WildfireRelatively HighRelatively High$12,845,692$383$334,419$13,180,49316
3EarthquakeRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$4,551,541n/a$593,600$5,145,142Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
4LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$4,635n/a$489,286$493,9211
5DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$162,410n/a$162,41018
6Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$100$2,361$73,517$75,9788
7Winter WeatherRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$2,804under $1$70,401$73,205516
8TornadoVery LowVery Low$37,279$23$4,416$41,7170No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
9LandslideRelatively ModerateRelatively Low$7,646n/a$26,587$34,23315
10Strong WindVery LowVery Low$12,404$617$15,884$28,904113Includes 106 High Wind and 5 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
11HailVery LowVery Low$20,583$448$6,227$27,25919
12Volcanic ActivityRelatively LowRelatively Low$6,362n/a$1,324$7,6860No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13AvalancheVery LowVery Low$3n/a$213$2160No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14Cold WaveNo RatingNo Expected Annual Losses$0$0$0$03
HurricaneNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates hurricane Not Applicable for this county, and no counted federal declaration for this county names it (EM-3248-CA names it but is not counted as a local occurrence; see B1-d).No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
Ice StormNot ApplicableNot Applicable1

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local volcanic activity records (Storm Events records this hazard only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: coastal flooding and tsunami. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Avalanchetract 5.02 (Very Low, 29.4); tract 2.02 (Very Low, 29.0); tract 4 (Very Low, 28.5)
Earthquaketract 3 (Relatively High, 94.5); tract 1 (Relatively High, 94.5); tract 2.01 (Relatively High, 92.2)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 4 (Relatively Moderate, 98.4); tract 2.02 (Relatively Moderate, 98.0); tract 3 (Relatively Moderate, 97.9)
Tornadotract 5.02 (Very Low, 26.2); tract 1 (Very Low, 25.6); tract 2.01 (Very Low, 21.0)
Volcanic Activitytract 5.01 (Relatively Moderate, 98.0); tract 5.02 (Relatively Low, 87.8); tract 1 (Very Low, 85.6)
Wildfiretract 3 (Very High, 99.9); tract 4 (Very High, 99.8); tract 1 (Very High, 99.7)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 5.02 is Census Tract 5.02). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Avalanchenone (count and damage only)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill3 records, 1997 to 2019 (3 zone-level)3 days; 1 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 1997-01-13 to 1997-01-15, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Wind chill: in event narratives only (local data needed). Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0Temperature: in event narratives only (local data needed).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)18 records, 2009 to 2022 (18 zone-level)1 day to 328 days (median 90.5 days); 4 with a recorded value328 days (about 10.8 months), 2021-10-08 to 2022-08-31, a run of 11 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelDrought, 2009-02-01, $50,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2009 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)20 records, 1992 to 20200.75 in to 1.75 in (median 0.88 in); 20 with a recorded value1.75 in hail, 2017-08-02; same size also recorded on 2003-07-22Hail, 2003-07-22, property not reported; $5,000 crops (2003 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Portola city (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)8 records, 2021 to 2026 (8 zone-level)1 day to 6 days (median 2.5 days); 8 with a recorded value6 consecutive days, 2022-09-04 to 2022-09-09, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat index: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)1 record, 2005 (1 zone-level)No damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).Ice thickness: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)20 records, 1997 to 2026 (2 zone-level)Flood, 2017-02-07, $2,000,000 property; $0 crops (2017 dollars)No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan. Zone-level records (2) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)15 records, 2005 to 2025 (1 zone-level)Debris Flow, 2005-12-01, $2,000 property; crops not reported (2005 dollars); NWS zone CAZ071No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan. Zone-level records (1) apply countywide.Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)1 record, 2009Lightning, 2009-06-03, $0 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars), 1 direct deathEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Portola city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only (local data needed).
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)111 records, 1996 to 2026 (111 zone-level)32 kt (37 mph) to 114 kt (131 mph) (median 56 kt (64 mph)); 108 with a recorded value114 kt (131 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2024-02-14; NWS zone CAZ071High Wind, 2002-12-14, $220,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2002 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)2 records, 201543 kt (49 mph); 2 with a recorded value43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2015-07-03; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 2015-07-03Thunderstorm Wind, 2015-07-03, $525,000 property; $0 crops (2015 dollars)No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)0Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Volcanic Ash, Volcanic AshfallVolcanic Explosivity Index (local data)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)16 records, 1999 to 2024 (13 zone-level)Wildfire, 2000-09-01, $22,700,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan. Zone-level records (13) apply countywide.Acres burned: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)516 records, 1996 to 2026 (516 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 1997-01-22, $200,000 property; crops not reported (1997 dollars); NWS zone CAZ071Countywide (zone-level records).Snow depth: in event narratives only (local data needed).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records whose zone no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 23 declarations covering 17 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2023-04-032023-02-21DR-4699-CAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesIce Storm; Inland Flooding; Landslide; Strong Wind; Winter Weather$421,552.42within last 5 years
2023-03-102023-03-09EM-3592-CAEmergencySevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslide, Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recordedwithin last 5 yearssame incident as DR-4699
2021-08-242021-07-14DR-4610-CAMajor disasterWildfiresWildfire$23,474,545.33
2021-07-202021-07-20FM-5400-CAFire managementDixie FireWildfireno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4610
2020-09-092020-08-17FM-5363-CAFire managementBear FireWildfireno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4558
2020-08-222020-08-14DR-4558-CAMajor disasterWildfiresWildfire$117,891.97
2020-03-222020-01-20DR-4482-CAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3428-CAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4482
2017-04-012017-02-01DR-4308-CAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslide, Winter Weather$998,218.37
2017-02-142017-01-03DR-4301-CAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesInland Flooding; Landslide; Winter Weather$853,089.50
2008-06-282008-06-20EM-3287-CAEmergencyWildfiresWildfire$7,006.12
2006-02-032005-12-17DR-1628-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslide$208,519.58
2005-09-132005-08-29EM-3248-CAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
1999-09-011999-08-24EM-3140-CAEmergencyCa-Wildfires-08/25/1999Wildfire$4,840.95
1997-01-041996-12-28DR-1155-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesInland Flooding; Landslideno Public Assistance recorded
1995-03-121995-02-13DR-1046-CAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowInland Flooding; Landslide; Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1995-01-101995-01-03DR-1044-CAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud FlowsInland Flooding; Landslide; Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1993-02-031993-01-05DR-979-CAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslide, Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1986-02-211986-02-12DR-758-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1977-01-201977-01-20EM-3023-CAEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1970-02-161970-02-16DR-283-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1969-01-261969-01-26DR-253-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1964-12-241964-12-24DR-183-CAMajor disasterHeavy Rains & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

School districts and special districts in this county: $5,194,765.32 (included in the county total above). Public Assistance matched by applicant name to the school districts and special districts FEMA lists as plan participants in this county. They have no row of their own in the jurisdiction table, so their total is listed here. These dollars are already included in the county PA column of the declarations table (the FEMA record places each applicant in this county), so this line is not added to it.

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1964-04-011964-04-01DR-169-CAMajor disasterSeismic Sea WaveTsunami
1963-12-211963-12-21DR-161-CAMajor disasterFlood Due to Broken DamOther, not an NRI hazard; not counted
1963-02-251963-02-25DR-145-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingInland Flooding
1962-10-241962-10-24DR-138-CAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1962-03-061962-03-06DR-122-CAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1961-11-161961-11-16DR-119-CAMajor disasterFire (Los Angeles County)Wildfire
1958-04-041958-04-04DR-82-CAMajor disasterHeavy Rainstorms & FloodInland Flooding
1956-12-291956-12-29DR-65-CAMajor disasterForest FireWildfire
1955-12-231955-12-23DR-47-CAMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding
1954-02-051954-02-05DR-15-CAMajor disasterFlood & ErosionInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

5 Fire Management declarations (1977-08-07 to 1988-09-13) FEMA filed as Statewide with no county; each names one local fire. Listed on the state page.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Avalanche0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Cold Wave3000001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought180011101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail20000001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave8105001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm1000101996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding200271201996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide150010801996 to 2026-06-30
Lightning1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind1130730101955 to 2026-06-30Includes 106 High Wind and 5 Strong Wind records.
Tornado0000001950 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1950 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Volcanic Activity0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire16004401996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather51601295601996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2024-02-14High Wind114 kt (131 mph) measured gust$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone CAZ071 (LASSEN/EASTERN PLUMAS/EASTERN SIERRA), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2022-09-04Excessive Heat$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2022 dollars)0, 0NWS zone CAZ068 (MT SHASTA/WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2021-10-08Drought$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone CAZ068 (MT SHASTA/WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2021-07-13Wildfire$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)1, 3NWS zone CAZ068 (MT SHASTA/WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2017-08-02Hail1.75 indamage not reported0, 0MASSACKB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2017-02-07Flood$2,000,000 property; $0 crops (2017 dollars)0, 0GRAEAGLE to MOHAWKB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2015-07-03Thunderstorm Wind43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust$150,000 property; $0 crops (2015 dollars)0, 0ALMANORB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2009-06-03Lightning$0 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)1, 0PORTOLAdeaths or injuries recorded
2005-12-01Debris Flow$2,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (2005 dollars)0, 0NWS zone CAZ071 (LASSEN/EASTERN PLUMAS/EASTERN SIERRA), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Debris Flow
2000-09-01Wildfire$22,700,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)0, 0QUINCYB1-c worst recorded: Wildfire
1997-01-22Heavy Snow$200,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (1997 dollars)0, 0NWS zone CAZ071 (LASSEN/EASTERN PLUMAS/EASTERN SIERRA), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
1996-12-20Heavy Snowdamage not reported1, 0NWS zone CAZ068 (MT SHASTA/WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (731 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Avalanche0.01events per yearabout 1 in 100 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)01994 to 2023 (30 years)see B1-f0.01 is NRI's minimum avalanche frequency for a county in an avalanche susceptibility zone; NRI records no avalanche here, so the descriptor reflects the floor, not local events.
Cold Wave0event-days per yearnone modeledPossible (from Storm Events: 2 of 30 years)event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)02005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNRI models no cold wave event-days here (2005-11-12 to 2024-11-12, 19 years); Storm Events has a record in 2 of 30 years. The descriptor comes from Storm Events, which records events NRI's definition leaves out.
Drought63event-days per yearabout 63 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 4 of 30 years)event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)1,7712000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.0437annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 4.37%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail0.127events per yearabout 1 in 8 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)4.8 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave2.47event-days per yearabout 2.47 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 3 of 30 years)event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)28.62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricaneevents per year1851 to 2024 (Atlantic); 1949 to 2024 (Pacific)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Ice Stormevent-days per yearPossible1946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNot Applicable in NRI for this county; the descriptor comes from Storm Events, not NRI: event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025.
Inland Flooding0.464event-days per yearabout 0.464 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 9 of 30 years)event-days in 9 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (30%)131996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide6.93events per year (modeled)about 6.93 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning14.5days per year with a strikeabout 14.5 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.0652events per yearabout 1 in 15 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)31986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.136events per yearabout 1 in 7 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Volcanic Activity0.0021annual probabilityabout 1 in 476 yearsUnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Wildfire0.0111annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 1.11%Likely (from Storm Events: 8 of 30 years)Storm Events records in 8 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (26.7%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from Storm Events, not NRI.
Winter Weather34.9event-days per yearabout 34.9 days per yearHighly likely (from Storm Events: 30 of 30 years)event-days in 30 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (100%)6662005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20258300.267
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20252300.0667
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20250300
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Avalanche7 of 725.528.429.4Very Low 7
Cold Wave0 of 7No Rating 7
Drought5 of 767.474.997.5Relatively Moderate 1, Very Low 4, No Rating 2
Earthquake7 of 783.390.894.5Relatively High 4, Relatively Moderate 3
Hail7 of 733.244.954.4Relatively Low 5, Very Low 2
Heat Wave7 of 78.016.339.0Relatively Low 3, Very Low 4
Hurricane0 of 7Not Applicable 7
Ice Storm0 of 7Not Applicable 7
Inland Flooding7 of 786.299.699.8Very High 6, Relatively High 1
Landslide7 of 763.996.598.4Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 2, Very Low 1
Lightning7 of 789.895.599.5Very High 3, Relatively High 4
Strong Wind7 of 712.916.746.4Relatively Low 3, Very Low 4
Tornado7 of 78.717.326.2Very Low 7
Volcanic Activity7 of 780.185.698.0Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 1, Very Low 5
Wildfire7 of 797.599.699.9Very High 6, Relatively High 1
Winter Weather7 of 773.085.695.3Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 2

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for drought, hail, heat wave, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Plumas CountyCountyApproved, expires 2031-06-08FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 4$8,049,330.450 total; 0 since its plan
Portola cityCityApproved, expires 2031-06-08FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$411,255.323 total; 0 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2026-06-09county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Avalanche$3,059,823n/aunder 1$3n/a$2130.000105%
Cold Wave$0$00$0$0$0building exposure is 0 in NRI
Droughtn/a$3,546,107n/an/a$162,410n/a4.58% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$15,696,198,453n/a19,790$4,551,541n/a$593,6000.029%
Hail$9,435,501,679$12,354,82919,746$20,583$448$6,2270.000218%
Heat Wave$9,435,495,168$12,354,82919,746$100$2,361$73,517under 0.0001%$0
HurricaneNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Ice StormNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Inland Flooding$9,419,771,338$8,628,050737$21,784,276$2,435$5,208n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$701,440,887n/a1,283$7,646n/a$26,5870.00109%
Lightning$9,435,501,679n/a19,746$4,635n/a$489,286under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$9,435,501,679$12,354,82919,746$12,404$617$15,8840.000131%
Tornado$9,435,501,679$12,354,82919,746$37,279$23$4,4160.000395%
Volcanic Activity$9,435,501,679n/a19,746$6,362n/a$1,324under 0.0001%
Wildfire$3,786,146,456$10,769,80210,076$12,845,692$383$334,4190.339%
Winter Weather$9,435,495,168$12,354,82919,746$2,804under $1$70,401under 0.0001%

Totals since 2026-06-09 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 0 county-coded records, 0 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0; 1 zone-level records, 1 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: no counted declaration since the plan.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population19,746
Building value (total, not at risk)$9,435,501,679
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$12,354,829
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$39,442,002
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$1,621,081
Social vulnerability ratingVery High
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)1
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition4Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition1

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0141400
of which: Plumas County (unincorporated area)0141400
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0130410

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Plumas County0602440141400
Portola city0604560000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential0141400
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0000000
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 4 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment, organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B. Each section heading names the item its tables support; the plan and FEMA's review decide whether the item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Plumas County, CA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 06063). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/ca/06063/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-30; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. Automated baseline.