Adams County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Adams County, Washington has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $7.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $360 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2022 (Lind Fire). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Adams County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 34.3 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 64.7 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 85.2 | $650K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.6 | $547K | ||
| Heat wave | 51.9 | $379K | ||
| Hail | 60.1 | $351K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.0 | $143K | ||
| Tornado | 7.2 | $34K | ||
| Lightning | 6.4 | $19K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.1 | $15K | ||
| Winter weather | 13.7 | $10K | ||
| Drought | 20.5 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 32.1 | $335 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 43.3 | $8 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Adams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1975
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 36 storm reports in Adams County since 1975, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 1, 1978.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 1978 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1980 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2001 | Hail | Ritzville | $4M |
| Aug 6, 1998 | Wildfire | Ritzville | $2M |
| Jul 4, 2006 | Hail | Washtucna | $901K |
| Jul 4, 2006 | Hail | Washtucna | $900K |
| Feb 16, 2017 | Flood | Servia | $200K |
| Jul 10, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Othello | $110K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 3, 2024. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Adams County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Adams County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 6,926 housing units.
Compare in Washington
All 39 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| King County | Earthquake | |
| Pierce County | Earthquake | |
| Snohomish County | Earthquake | |
| Spokane County | Inland flooding | |
| Clark County | Inland flooding | |
| Thurston County | Earthquake | |
| Kitsap County | Earthquake | |
| Yakima County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Grant County | 10 | |
| Franklin County | 9 | |
| Whitman County | 16 | |
| Lincoln County | 15 |
Common questions about Adams County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Adams County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Adams County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Adams County had?
Adams County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Lind Fire in August 2022.
Is Adams County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 35th highest of 39 in Washington. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Adams County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Adams County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Adams County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Adams County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 1, 1978. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 5 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.