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Clark County, Washington

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 39highest risk in Washington
$157Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Carol M Highsmith, CC0

Clark County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $157 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $313 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (608 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 162 claims here, including $962,000 for floods in 1996.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Clark County

$68.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$54.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 45 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$19.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate92.6
$68M
EarthquakeModerate97.6
$54M
Cold waveHigh96.7
$20M
Heat waveModerate95.9
$10M
Strong windModerate82.3
$2M
Ice stormHigh90.5
$1M
LightningModerate80.6
$970K
TornadoLow31.3
$717K
WildfireLow69.6
$222K
Winter weatherModerate73.8
$205K
HailVery Low24.9
$121K
LandslideLow81.2
$24K
Volcanic activityLow88.6
$15K
Coastal floodingVery Low29.2
$6K
AvalancheVery Low12.4
$16

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 very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Clark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood5
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 28, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 17, 2022Nakia Creek FireFire management
Feb 2, 2016Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A TMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1996Severe Storms, High Wind, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1977Severe Storms,Mudslides, & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1972

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 64 storm reports in Clark County since 1972, with 6 deaths and 306 injuries and about $29.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 5, 1972.

15tornadoes
7hail reports, largest 1 inches
15damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 1972F3–300 / 6
Jan 10, 2008EF1Hazel Dell0 / 0
Dec 10, 2015EF1Battle Ground0 / 0
Oct 13, 1984F1–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1989F1–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 5, 1972Tornado–$25M
Dec 7, 2015Heavy RainHazel Dell$2M
Jun 1, 2011FloodHazel Dell$1M
Jan 10, 2008TornadoHazel Dell$525K
Dec 10, 2015TornadoBattle Ground$311K
May 26, 2011FloodHazel Dell$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 6, 2026. 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 Clark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (608 policies)
28.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 162 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $962,234 paid

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 Clark County

$522,900median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 204,375 housing units.

Compare in Washington

All 39 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
King CountyVery HighEarthquake
Pierce CountyHighEarthquake
Snohomish CountyHighEarthquake
Spokane CountyModerateInland flooding
Clark CountyModerateInland flooding
Thurston CountyHighEarthquake
Kitsap CountyModerateEarthquake
Yakima CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Multnomah County, ORHigh10
Cowlitz CountyModerate21
Columbia County, ORLow14
Skamania CountyLow27

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $68.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $54.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Clark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 5, 1972. The weather service has also logged 7 hail reports and 12 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.