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Flood history · Palo Alto, CA 94303

Flood insurance claims in Palo Alto, CA 94303

349 claims since 1979 and $8.1 million paid. Here's what the public record shows, and how to check a specific address.

Check an address in 94303
349flood insurance claims since 1979
$8.1 millionpaid to policyholders
$30,774average paid claim
10claims in the last 10 years
3%of claims outside high-risk zones
#20of 1,431 California ZIP codes by claims

Claims by year

Every NFIP flood insurance claim reported in ZIP 94303 since 1978.

1979: 1 claims1980: 1 claims1982: 4 claims1983: 9 claims1984: 1 claims1992: 2 claims1993: 1 claims1995: 1 claims1996: 7 claims1997: 2 claims1998: 288 claims1999: 1 claims2000: 4 claims2001: 1 claims2002: 3 claims2005: 1 claims2009: 1 claims2010: 1 claims2011: 3 claims2012: 5 claims2013: 1 claims2014: 1 claims2017: 2 claims2022: 6 claims2023: 1 claims2024: 1 claims19801990200020102020

What the record says

Almost all claims here (97%) were on properties in high-risk zones (A or V). In those zones, federally regulated lenders require flood insurance.

One event dominates the record: Pineapple Express - Southern accounts for 82% of all claims in this ZIP code.

10 claims were filed in the last 10 years.

The most commonly recorded cause is heavy rain or snowmelt collecting faster than it drains, which can happen far from any river or coast.

Palo Alto, City Of takes part in FEMA's Community Rating System (class 6), which can lower flood insurance premiums by up to 20% in high-risk zones.

Biggest flood events

EventYearClaimsShare
Pineapple Express - Southern199828582%
Unnamed flooding1993123%
California Atmospheric River202262%
Winter storm201010%

Flood zone at time of claim

High-risk zones (A, V)90% · 314
Moderate or minimal risk (X, B, C)3% · 10
Zone not recorded7% · 25

NFIP communities

Palo Alto, City OfCRS class 6 · up to 20% off
East Palo Alto, City OfCRS class 8 · up to 10% off

Federal disaster declarations in San Mateo County

Flood, hurricane and storm declarations since 2000.

Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And MudslidesSevere Storm · Major disaster · 2023-04-03
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And MudslidesFlood · Emergency · 2023-03-10
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And MudslidesFlood · Major disaster · 2023-01-14
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And MudslidesFlood · Emergency · 2023-01-09
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And MudslidesFlood · Major disaster · 2017-04-01
Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And MudslidesSevere Storm · Major disaster · 2017-02-14

7 flood, storm or hurricane declarations for San Mateo County since 2000.

Check a specific address in Palo Alto.

ZIP-level history is the backdrop. See the official FEMA flood zone, ground elevation and next steps for one property, free.

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Nearby California ZIP codes

94301

Palo Alto

175 claims · $1.8 million paid

94025

Menlo Park

57 claims · $1.6 million paid

94063

Redwood City

67 claims · $2.3 million paid

94070

San Carlos

74 claims · $2.3 million paid

95002

Alviso

73 claims · $1.4 million paid

95035

Milpitas

67 claims · $60,411 paid

Sources: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) and Disaster Declarations Summaries, FEMA NFIP Community Status Book; place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Data as of 2026-10-09. Payments are net building + contents payments in dollars at the time paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims are grouped by the ZIP code reported on the claim. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA. Information only; not an official flood zone determination or insurance advice.

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