Del Norte County, CA Environment & Hazard Risk

• LandslideRelatively High$847K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
• TsunamiVery High$114M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$10.75M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 49 years
• WildfireRelatively Low$650K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 672 years
• Coastal floodingVery Low$25.39K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.6 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$229/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$57.82K/yr expected annual loss, about 20 events a year
• Heat waveVery Low$31.34K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.0 events a year
• LightningVery Low$37.82K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.0 events a year
• Winter weatherVery Low$6,439/yr expected annual loss, about 13 events a year
• HailVery Low$8,749/yr expected annual loss, about once every 19 years
• Strong windVery Low$20.16K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 33 years
• TornadoVery Low$7,755/yr expected annual loss, about once every 73 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: cold wave, hurricane, ice storm, riverine flooding, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

85 of 9,977 (0.9%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

329

Insured in high-risk zones

52 (16%)

Flood claims since 1978

37

Claims paid since 1978

$455K

• High Wind38
• Winter Weather31
• Strong Wind24
• Heavy Rain19
• Heavy Snow11
• Flood9
• Wildfire4
• High Surf2 · 1 death
• Coastal Flood2
• Flash Flood2

• Wildfire08/15/2023

  Del Norte Interior

  23 injured, $2.3M damage

  What happened

  Dry thunderstorms produced numerous lightning strikes across the Six Rivers National Forest. Twenty-seven fires developed within the Gasquet Ranger District creating the Smith River Complex. The complex grew in size rapidly in the first couple of weeks of the fire, jumping U.S. highway 199 causing it's closure for 3 weeks and resulting in the evacuation of the town of Gasquet. The fire also destroyed the high tension powerlines powering all of Del Norte County. The county was completely without power through August 25th when generators were installed to power the community. Main transmission lines were not repaired until September 10th when full power was restored. The fire continued to burn through September into October with fewer impacts to the community with a total of 95,000 acres burned plus 2 residences and 3 minor structures destroyed.

• Rip Current03/27/2001

  Crescent City, Del Norte County

  1 death

  What happened

  A youth visiting the beach with a group from Ashland, Oregon was swept of a rock at Preston Island by a large wave. Currents then carried the youth about 100 yards offshore where deputies lost visual contact.

• High Surf09/28/2021

  Coastal Del Norte

  1 death

  What happened

  At 12:15 pm on 28 September 2021, members of the Crescent City Police and Del Norte County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a male subject who was swept off a jetty in Crescent City, CA. The male subject could not be revived after rescue. A swell occurring across the coastal waters ranged from 10 to 14 feet at around 13 seconds. Winds were light out of the north.

• High Surf12/14/2016

  Coastal Del Norte

  $8.31M damage

  What happened

  Large surf impacted the coast in conjunction with a small storm surge. This resulted in damage to coastal bluffs along the Del Norte Coast.

• Heavy Rain02/15/2017

  Klamath Afs, Del Norte County

  $6M damage

  What happened

  Last Chance Grade accelerated pavement failure along Highway 101 near mile post 14.

• Tsunami07/30/2025

  Coastal Del Norte

  $1M damage

  What happened

  Tsunami waves impacted the Crescent City Harbor beginning around midnight on the 30th of July. The waves reached peak amplitude quickly in the first few hours just under 4 feet in amplitude. The waves then continued for over 24 hours, finally falling below the 1 foot tsunami advisory threshold during the morning of the 31st. The waves severely damaged or destroyed H-Dock in the harbor and damaged many of the connections between the other docks. The initial damage estimate is around $1 million.

• Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind04/09/2026

  Gasquet, Del Norte County

• Strong Wind44 kt wind12/25/2025

  Coastal Del Norte

• Strong Wind26 kt wind12/24/2025

  Del Norte Interior

• High Wind61 kt wind12/24/2025

  Del Norte Interior

• Heavy Rain12/21/2025

  Gasquet, Del Norte County

• Strong Wind35 kt wind12/19/2025

  Coastal Del Norte

• Strong Wind35 kt wind12/19/2025

  Coastal Del Norte

• Strong Wind26 kt wind11/05/2025

  Del Norte Interior

• City of Crescent CityServes 15,202 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Bertsch Ocean View CsdServes 2,669 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Smith River C.s.d.Serves 2,568 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Gasquet C.s.d.Serves 657 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Big Rock C.s.d.Serves 513 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Northcrest Mobile Home ParkServes 250 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Klamath C.s.d.Serves 240 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Redwood Park C.s.d.Serves 200 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting