Ferry County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Ferry County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,473 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (wildfires). Only 16 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 Ferry County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 97.4 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 52.3 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 44.3 | $482K | ||
| Landslide | 96.9 | $165K | ||
| Earthquake | 45.1 | $129K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.6 | $88K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.0 | $25K | ||
| Lightning | 10.3 | $21K | ||
| Winter weather | 22.0 | $12K | ||
| Hail | 5.9 | $10K | ||
| Tornado | 4.4 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.5 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 35.7 | $103 | ||
| Drought | 13.0 | $16 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 54.4 | $11 |
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 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 Ferry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1992
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 84 storm reports in Ferry County since 1992, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $11.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on April 25, 2008 near Inchelium.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 2008 | EF0 | Inchelium | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1998 | Flash Flood | Republic | $4M |
| May 5, 2018 | Flood | Toroda | $3M |
| Apr 1, 2017 | Flood | Keller | $2M |
| Apr 8, 2017 | Flood | West Fork | $800K |
| Mar 13, 2017 | Flood | Laurier | $780K |
| Jul 20, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Keller | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 29, 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 Ferry 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 Ferry 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; 4,117 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens County | 21 | |
| Okanogan County | 40 | |
| Lincoln County | 15 |
Common questions about Ferry County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Ferry County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Ferry County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Ferry County had?
Ferry County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in August 2026.
Is Ferry County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 30th 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 Ferry County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Ferry 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 Ferry County had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Ferry County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on April 25, 2008 near Inchelium. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 25 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.