Santa Cruz County was devastated by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which caused widespread damage and the death of 67 people across the region. The county faces serious wildfire risk — the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex burned over 86000 acres destroying 925 structures. Tsunami risk from Pacific subduction zone events is serious for coastal Santa Cruz. The San Andreas Fault lies just offshore. UC Santa Cruz creates institutional emergency planning requirements.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 7 / 10 High Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Earthquake / Wildfire |
| Secondary Hazard | Tsunami |
| FEMA Flood Zone | High |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 8 |
| Last Major Event | CZU 2020 Lightning Complex |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (831) 454-2550 |
| Emergency Shelters | 10 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | CA-17 CA-1 US-101 CA-9 |
// County Profile
| County | Santa Cruz County CA |
| State | California (CA) |
| Population | 270 |
| Area | 430 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | High |
// Other California Counties
Los Angeles County CA
Earthquake / Wildfire
9/10
Critical
Butte County CA
Wildfire / Flooding
9/10
Critical
San Francisco County CA
Earthquake / Tsunami
8/10
High
San Diego County CA
Wildfire / Earthquake
8/10
High
Ventura County CA
Wildfire / Earthquake
8/10
High
San Bernardino County CA
Wildfire / Earthquake
8/10
High