State Guide

California: The Storm-Ready Checklist

California's biggest weather risks are wildfire (Oct–Jan), extreme heat (Jun–Aug) and hail and derecho (Oct–Mar). This page collects the state's emergency contacts, shelter and mitigation money, and the rules worth knowing before the next warning: every fact linked to its source below.

Wildfire WestQuake West

Money

Shelter & mitigation money

California runs Earthquake Brace + Bolt: check current eligibility and funding rounds directly on the program page before applying.

NAIC's June 2025 hurricane-deductible list does not name California; NAIC notes other states may still allow insurers to include one, and a separate wind/hail deductible can appear in any state's policy regardless (content.naic.org/insurance-topics/hurricane-deductibles).

Contacts

Who to call, before and after

• Emergency management

  California Governor's Office of Emergency Services · (916) 845-8506

• Insurance regulator

  California Department of Insurance · (916) 492-3500

• Energy bill assistance (LIHEAP)

  Energy bill assistance (LIHEAP) · 1-866-675-6623

• Well water testing

  California State Water Resources Control Board

Hazards

The hazards California actually faces

• Wildfire

  Peak season: Oct–Jan. Wildfire risk to a home is decided mostly in the first five feet around the structure (the "home ignition zone") where embers carried well ahead of the flame front land on roofs, gutters, and anything flammable pressed against the wall. A go-bag and a named evacuation trigger matter because wildfire evacuation orders can arrive with far less notice than a hurricane or even a tornado watch.

• Extreme heat

  Peak season: Jun–Aug. Extreme heat kills more people in an average US year than any other weather hazard, and most of those deaths are preventable: the risk concentrates in the first heat wave of the season, before bodies acclimate, and in households without reliable cooling. Checking on elderly or isolated neighbors during a heat advisory does more than any single piece of equipment.

• Hail and derecho

  Peak season: Oct–Mar. Hail and derecho winds arrive inside the same thunderstorm complex, often with less lead time than a tornado warning because the threat is the whole storm line, not a single funnel. Large hail totals more property-damage claims nationally than any other severe-storm hazard, and derecho wind gusts can match hurricane-force winds hundreds of miles from open water. Vehicles under cover and loose yard items secured before the line arrives are the cheap fix.

Know Before You Need It

Rules worth knowing

• Emergency prescription refills

  During a proclaimed state of emergency, a pharmacist may refill a prescription without the prescriber's authorization if the prescriber is unavailable after a reasonable effort to contact them; the statute sets no fixed days-supply cap for this provision specifically (Bus. & Prof. Code § 4064).

• Summer utility shutoff protection

  CPUC bars electric disconnection for nonpayment when the CalHeatScore heat-index forecast crosses a set threshold (lowered in 2026 from 100°F to 90°F-equivalent), with utilities required to consult the index before any shutoff (California PUC).

FAQ

Frequently asked

Does California offer storm shelter rebates?

California runs Earthquake Brace + Bolt, a state shelter/mitigation program. Check the program page for current funding and eligibility.

What natural disasters does California get?

California's primary weather hazards are wildfire (Oct–Jan), extreme heat (Jun–Aug) and hail and derecho (Oct–Mar).

Who regulates insurance in California?

Insurance in California is regulated by California Department of Insurance.

Data verified 2026-08-02, sources linked inline.

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