Where Will it Flood in Watsonville?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the National Insurance Program and as part of that program, it maps areas where streams and rivers are expected to flood beyond their banks. In Watsonville the rivers and streams predicted to overflow are the Pajaro River, Salsipuedes Creek, and the various branches of Struve and Watsonville Sloughs. The map below shows where these flood prone areas (Special Flood Hazard Area defined as having a 1% chance of occurring) are located.

• 100 and 500 year FEMA flood zone map

The City engineering staff can assist residents with determining whether they're homes are located in the special Flood Hazard areas in the city. Information is available about strategies for reducing the cost of flood insurance and related issues.

Other Areas

Other locations within the city are subject to local flooding which occurs after intense periods of rainfall in locations where runoff collects and overwhelms the local storm drain inlets and pipes or if they are obstructed. Usually this type of flooding is confined to the street areas. To report local flooding call Customer Service at 831-768-3133 during regular business hours or 831-471-1151 after hours. If it is a health and safety emergency call 911.

Flood Insurance Rate Map

The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is an official map of a community for which FEMA has delineated the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. All known areas of the City subject to natural flooding hazards have been designated and mapped by FEMA, such as the 100 year floodplain boundaries which appear on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps.