Washington natural disaster risk
Ratings for all 39 counties, the federal disaster record and flood insurance across the state.
Washington has had 66 major federal disaster declarations for natural events since 1953. FEMA expects about $4.7 billion a year in losses from natural hazards across the state. Inland flooding is the costliest hazard in 22 of its 39 counties, followed by earthquake in 11. 1 is rated Very High overall. About 0.9% of homes carry federal flood insurance, and the program has paid $367 million on 15,931 claims here since 1978.
Lowest risk (50,000+ people)
Top hazards
Recent federal declarations
All states ›Largest counties
King County
2,268,178 people
EarthquakePierce County
920,483 people
EarthquakeSnohomish County
827,611 people
EarthquakeSpokane County
538,806 people
Inland floodingClark County
503,148 people
Inland floodingThurston County
294,398 people
EarthquakeKitsap County
275,553 people
EarthquakeYakima County
256,420 people
Inland floodingWhatcom County
226,681 people
EarthquakeBenton County
206,541 people
Inland floodingSkagit County
129,360 people
Inland floodingCowlitz County
110,649 people
EarthquakeAll 39 counties
| Name | People | Overall risk | Top hazard | Declarations | Homes insured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 20,588 | Inland flooding | 8 | 0.1% | |
| Asotin County | 22,285 | Inland flooding | 11 | 0.1% | |
| Benton County | 206,541 | Inland flooding | 18 | 0.3% | |
| Chelan County | 78,989 | Inland flooding | 51 | 1.2% | |
| Clallam County | 77,054 | Earthquake | 27 | 0.8% | |
| Clark County | 503,148 | Inland flooding | 15 | 0.4% | |
| Columbia County | 3,947 | Inland flooding | 14 | 2.1% | |
| Cowlitz County | 110,649 | Earthquake | 21 | 2% | |
| Douglas County | 42,903 | Inland flooding | 17 | 0.2% | |
| Ferry County | 7,149 | Wildfire | 22 | 0.3% | |
| Franklin County | 96,653 | Inland flooding | 9 | 0.1% | |
| Garfield County | 2,285 | Inland flooding | 13 | 1.1% | |
| Grant County | 98,978 | Inland flooding | 10 | 0.5% | |
| Grays Harbor County | 75,462 | Tsunami | 32 | 4.1% | |
| Island County | 86,855 | Earthquake | 20 | 2.2% | |
| Jefferson County | 32,896 | Earthquake | 27 | 1% | |
| King County | 2,268,178 | Earthquake | 33 | 0.8% | |
| Kitsap County | 275,553 | Earthquake | 14 | 0.8% | |
| Kittitas County | 44,271 | Wildfire | 27 | 2.3% | |
| Klickitat County | 22,707 | Wildfire | 27 | 0.2% | |
| Lewis County | 82,036 | Inland flooding | 35 | 2.9% | |
| Lincoln County | 10,875 | Inland flooding | 15 | 0.4% | |
| Mason County | 65,689 | Earthquake | 30 | 1.2% | |
| Okanogan County | 42,016 | Inland flooding | 40 | 0.8% | |
| Pacific County | 23,335 | Tsunami | 24 | 2.3% | |
| Pend Oreille County | 13,347 | Inland flooding | 19 | 1% | |
| Pierce County | 920,483 | Earthquake | 24 | 0.7% | |
| San Juan County | 17,695 | Inland flooding | 10 | 0.7% | |
| Skagit County | 129,360 | Inland flooding | 27 | 4.9% | |
| Skamania County | 12,011 | Inland flooding | 27 | 0.4% | |
| Snohomish County | 827,611 | Earthquake | 35 | 0.7% | |
| Spokane County | 538,806 | Inland flooding | 31 | 0.1% | |
| Stevens County | 46,368 | Inland flooding | 21 | 0.3% | |
| Thurston County | 294,398 | Earthquake | 28 | 0.9% | |
| Wahkiakum County | 4,415 | Tsunami | 30 | 5.3% | |
| Walla Walla County | 62,555 | Inland flooding | 11 | 0.7% | |
| Whatcom County | 226,681 | Earthquake | 24 | 1.9% | |
| Whitman County | 47,922 | Inland flooding | 16 | 0.3% | |
| Yakima County | 256,420 | Inland flooding | 37 | 0.9% |
Linked names have a full page. Overall risk from the FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); declarations are federal disaster and emergency declarations for natural events since 1953 (OpenFEMA); homes insured is the share with NFIP flood policies.