Clark County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 92.6 | $68M | ||
| Earthquake | 97.6 | $54M | ||
| Cold wave | 96.7 | $20M | ||
| Heat wave | 95.9 | $10M | ||
| Strong wind | 82.3 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 90.5 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 80.6 | $970K | ||
| Tornado | 31.3 | $717K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.6 | $222K | ||
| Winter weather | 73.8 | $205K | ||
| Hail | 24.9 | $121K | ||
| Landslide | 81.2 | $24K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 88.6 | $15K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 29.2 | $6K | ||
| Avalanche | 12.4 | $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
Most recent
Show all 15
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 1972 | F3 | – | 300 / 6 |
| Jan 10, 2008 | EF1 | Hazel Dell | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 10, 2015 | EF1 | Battle Ground | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 13, 1984 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1989 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 1972 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Dec 7, 2015 | Heavy Rain | Hazel Dell | $2M |
| Jun 1, 2011 | Flood | Hazel Dell | $1M |
| Jan 10, 2008 | Tornado | Hazel Dell | $525K |
| Dec 10, 2015 | Tornado | Battle Ground | $311K |
| May 26, 2011 | Flood | Hazel 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County, OR | 10 | |
| Cowlitz County | 21 | |
| Columbia County, OR | 14 | |
| Skamania County | 27 |
Cities in Clark County
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.