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Flooding in Burbank, CA: the figures

For Burbank, CA: the facts behind the questions callers ask most, in plain words.

Expected inland flood losses in Burbank's ZIP codes run about $208 a year per $100,000 of building value, against $164 across Los Angeles County.

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Technical drawing of flood damage restoration: flooded basement cleanup, storm water cleanup and crawl space water removal.
Flood Damage Restoration covers flooded basement cleanup, storm water cleanup and crawl space water removal.

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  1. Call (833) 728-2327

    Tell the person who answers what got wet and where the water came from. Calls are answered 24/7.

  2. Stop the source

    You get help shutting off the water or the power to a wet room while the crew is on the way.

  3. Inspection and written estimate

    Moisture readings, photos and a written estimate come before any work begins.

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A guide for water damage restoration in Burbank and the towns around it.

35% of homes in Burbank are from before 1950, against 24% across Los Angeles County.

Burbank and water from outside

Burbank's flood figures describe a city where claims are rare but the expected losses run high. FEMA flood insurance records show 1.3 claims per 1,000 homes in Burbank's ZIP codes from 2016 to 2025, against 0.2 across Los Angeles County and 0.5 statewide. Only 0.5% of county homes carry federal flood insurance, against 1.3% statewide, and the average building payment on a county claim was $38,214.

FEMA's National Risk Index puts Burbank's yearly inland flood loss at $208 per $100,000 of building value, above the county's 164 and the state's 149. NOAA climate normals give the city 5 days a year with an inch of rain or more, while the county and state each see 4. Los Angeles County has had 8 major disaster declarations for floods and storms since 2000, and storm reports logged flash flooding or flooding on 29 days from 2016 to 2025. So the risk sits in a few hard storms, and few households insure against them.

Water that comes in from outside, off a slope or a flooded street, is Category 3. It carries soil, sewage and chemicals, so soaked carpet pad and the lower drywall are usually cut out rather than dried. Standard homeowners policies usually exclude it, and only flood insurance covers outside water, so check your own policy before the rainy months. When it reaches a home in the Burbank area, the restoration crew pumps and tests it before flood damage restoration begins.

Burbank flood figures

Burbank figures: about 105,165 residents in the city, by the Census.

40% of homes in Burbank sit in larger multi-unit buildings, compared with 24% across California.

57% of homes in Burbank are rented.

11% of households in Burbank moved in from 2021 on, compared with 9% across California.

  • 208 Yearly inland flood loss per $100,000 of building valueLos Angeles County: 164 Burbank208Los Angeles164CA149
  • 46,301 Housing units
  • 105,165 Residents
  • 35% Homes built before 1950Los Angeles County: 24% Burbank35%Los Angeles24%CA14%
  • 40% Homes in buildings with 5 or more unitsLos Angeles County: 36% Burbank40%Los Angeles36%CA24%
  • 57% Homes that are rentedLos Angeles County: 54% Burbank57%Los Angeles54%CA44%
  • 73% Homes built before 1980Los Angeles County: 71% Burbank73%Los Angeles71%CA57%
  • 0% Mobile and manufactured homesLos Angeles County: 2% Burbank0%Los Angeles2%CA4%
  • 1 Nights a year at or below 32 degreesLos Angeles County: 3 Burbank1Los Angeles3CA9

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates; FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, claims from 2016 to 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates v1 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, December 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, nearest weather station; FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to 2025.

Before the next storm in Burbank

Burbank averages 5 days a year with an inch of rain or more, and Census figures show 73% of its homes were built before 1980, with 35% built before 1950. Decades of settling can tilt a yard toward the house. Before the next storm, clear out each downspout and extend it so it empties well away from the foundation, and add soil where the ground slopes back toward the walls.

If your home has a basement or a below-grade garage, pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to test the pump, and fit a battery backup for storms that knock out power. Clean leaves out of window wells and cover them. Move papers, photos and electronics off the floor of lower rooms. Renters hold 57% of homes here and 40% sit in buildings with 5 or more units, so tenants should ask the landlord who clears shared drains and keep a renters policy current. Look up your address on the FEMA flood map, and if you want flood insurance, buy it early: FEMA notes a 30-day waiting period before a new policy takes effect.

When storm water still gets in, switch off power to the wet rooms, photograph everything and call for water mitigation. Outside water is Category 3, so the restoration crew pulls soaked pad and cuts wet drywall before drying. The EPA advises drying within 24 to 48 hours, and that clock applies across the Burbank area.

What to have on hand before storm season

Before storm season, look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to see its flood zone, and keep a copy. Walk through the house with your phone and record each room, including the basement, the furnace and the water heater. Keep your policy numbers, the main water shutoff location and the breaker panel location written down somewhere you can reach without power. Move papers, photos and electronics off basement floors. If a flood comes, those records make cleanup and any claim faster, and they help the restoration company see what the rooms looked like before the water. Floodwater that reached hardwood or laminate usually means floor water damage repair after drying.

Burbank flood questions

What does a FEMA flood risk rating mean for my Burbank home?

FEMA's National Risk Index rates counties and census tracts for hazards such as riverine and coastal flooding, from very low to very high, using expected losses and community factors. It describes the area, not one house: a low lot or a basement can flood in a lower-rated area. Check your own FEMA flood zone too.

How do I keep storm water out of a Burbank basement?

Most basement water from storms comes from runoff at the foundation. Point downspouts away from the house, keep the yard sloping away, test the sump pump and its backup, and seal cracks and window wells.

Is flood cleanup different from other water damage?

Yes. Outside floodwater is Category 3 under the IICRC S500 standard, so carpet, pad, insulation and drywall below the water line are removed rather than dried, and hard surfaces are disinfected. Sewage and chemicals in floodwater are why the crew wears protective gear.

What should I do after floodwater gets into my Burbank home?

Keep out of the water until the electricity to the area is off. Floodwater counts as contaminated, so wear boots and gloves if you must go in. Photograph the water line, then call for extraction and drying; soaked porous materials below the line are usually removed.

Where can I check the flood zone for a Burbank address?

On the FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov: type the address to see its flood zone and the map's date. FEMA's National Risk Index adds a county and ZIP view of expected flood losses. A low-risk zone is not a no-risk zone; water from heavy rain still reaches basements outside mapped flood areas.

Other guides for Burbank

Every Burbank water damage guide

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