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Douglas County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 39highest risk in Washington
$27Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Douglas County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $628 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (wildfires and straight-line winds). Only 29 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 Douglas County

$17.7 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 85 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.1
$18M
Cold waveModerate82.6
$4M
WildfireModerate94.7
$3M
EarthquakeLow81.6
$2M
Heat waveLow67.8
$677K
HailLow55.2
$266K
LightningLow53.9
$222K
Strong windLow17.7
$126K
Winter weatherLow56.6
$67K
TornadoVery Low6.7
$27K
DroughtVery Low18.2
$2K
AvalancheVery Low61.5
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low83.4
$1K
LandslideVery Low49.9
$1K
Ice stormVery Low1.6
$541

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 high 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 Douglas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire10
Flood2
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Severe Storm1
Earthquake1

Most recent

Feb 4, 2021Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2020Cold Springs/Pearl Hill FireFire management
Jul 12, 2020Road 11 FireFire management
Aug 12, 2018Grass Valley FireFire management
Jul 28, 2018Chelan Hills FireFire management
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergency
Aug 14, 2015Chelan Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 9, 2012Barker Canyon FireFire management
Jul 11, 2008Badger Mountain Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 17
Jul 6, 2004Wa-Beebe Fire-07-04-2004Fire management
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1989Heavy Rains, Flooding & MudslidesMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jun 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 48 storm reports in Douglas County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $17.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on July 4, 1992.

3tornadoes
16hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
11damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 4, 1992F0–0 / 0
May 19, 2004F0East Wenatchee0 / 0
Jul 22, 2016EF0Mold0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 26, 2001Heavy RainCountywide$10M
Jul 5, 2006HailOrondo$6M
Jul 10, 2023Flash FloodMc Carteney$1M
Aug 10, 2013Thunderstorm WindColumbia River$180K
Jul 31, 2010Flash FloodWaterville$40K
Jul 10, 2023HailWaterville$30K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 2023. 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 Douglas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$50,029paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
1995costliest year, with $31,853 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 Douglas County

$432,500median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.2%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; 17,960 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
Grant CountyLow10
Chelan CountyModerate51
Kittitas CountyModerate27
Okanogan CountyModerate40

Common questions about Douglas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $17.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?

Douglas County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds in February 2021.

Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Douglas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on July 4, 1992. The weather service has also logged 16 hail reports and 10 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.