Modoc County, CA Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively High$2.7M/yr expected annual loss, about 98 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 187 years
• Volcanic activityVery Low$821/yr expected annual loss, about once every 417 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$583K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 66 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$28.9K/yr expected annual loss, about 17 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$314/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• AvalancheVery Low$89/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• Heat waveVery Low$106K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.3 events a year
• LightningVery Low$26.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
• Cold waveVery Low$56.2K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 11 years
• HailVery Low$5,826/yr expected annual loss, about once every 22 years
• Strong windVery Low$4,213/yr expected annual loss, about once every 32 years
• TornadoVery Low$572/yr expected annual loss, about once every 53 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: coastal flooding, hurricane, ice storm, riverine flooding, tsunami.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

58 of 5,734 (1.0%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

413

Insured in high-risk zones

56 (14%)

• Frost/Freeze116
• High Wind87
• Heavy Snow81
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill55
• Wildfire33 · 1 death
• Winter Storm18
• Winter Weather11
• Flood10
• Strong Wind9
• Excessive Heat8

• Flood01/01/1997

  Surprise Valley

  $330M damage

  What happened

  Please see flood summary under Nevada zones from 1/01/97 to 1/17/97.

• Wildfire07/30/2015

  Modoc County

  1 death

  What happened

  The Frog Wildfire was started by lightning at around 1645 PST on 07/30/2015. As of 0330 PST on 08/01/2015, the fire covered 1000 acres and was 10 percent contained. 400,000 dollars had been spent on firefighting efforts. On the evening of July 30, 2015, 38 year-old Black Hills National Forest Engine Captain, David ���Dave��� Ruhl, while scouting on foot during initial attack of the Frog Fire on the Modoc National Forest, was entrapped and killed.

• Flood05/08/2005

  Modoc County

  $2.3M damage

  What happened

  County officials reported widespread main stem flooding on the Pit River due to heavy rain and snowmelt that occurred in the Warner Mountains several days before. The river was reported to be 1/4 to 1/2 mile in spots with several county roads inundated and closed. A lot of farmland was also submerged, but no structural damage was reported.

• Flood02/03/2025

  Lookout, Modoc County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  Nearly two days of heavy rain, with amounts of around 1.50 to 2.50 inches, combined with snow melt caused the Pit River near Canby to rise to a peak above major flood stage. This was the fourth highest peak since records began in 1904, and the highest peak in the past 28 years. The river rose above minor flood stage of 8.5 ft. at 03/1445 PST, peaked in major flood stage at 04/2330 PST at 11.13 ft. It then fell slowly, dropping below minor flood stage at 08/0130 PST.

• Wildfire08/01/2014

  Modoc County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  The Day Wildfire was started by lightning on 07/30/2014. As of 08/13/2014, the fire covered 13153 acres and was 96% contained. 15.9 million dollars had been spent on firefighting efforts. Ten structures were lost.

• City of AlturasServes 2,715 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Newell County Water DistrictServes 629 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
• Cedarville County Water Dist.Serves 600 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• California Pines C.s.d.Serves 431 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Isot Community Water SystemServes 60 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations