Garfield County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Garfield County, Washington has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $2.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $861 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 13 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 Garfield 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 10.3 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 69.2 | $195K | ||
| Heat wave | 14.9 | $42K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.5 | $40K | ||
| Earthquake | 18.9 | $30K | ||
| Hail | 6.1 | $20K | ||
| Ice storm | 15.9 | $13K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.2 | $12K | ||
| Tornado | 2.1 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 60.5 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 61.0 | $2K | ||
| Winter weather | 2.5 | $2K | ||
| Lightning | 0.3 | $2K | ||
| Drought | 14.6 | $559 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Garfield County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1976
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 25 storm reports in Garfield County since 1976 and about $3.2 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $3M |
| Jul 6, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $140K |
| Jun 15, 1999 | Hail | Dodge | $15K |
| Jan 16, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pomeroy | $15K |
| Jul 23, 2014 | Hail | Pomeroy | $15K |
| Nov 16, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Peola | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 23, 2025. 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 Garfield 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 Garfield 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; 1,221 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Whitman County | 16 | |
| Asotin County | 11 | |
| Wallowa County, OR | 9 | |
| Columbia County | 14 |
Common questions about Garfield County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Garfield County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Garfield County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $194,871.
How many federal disasters has Garfield County had?
Garfield County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.
Is Garfield County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 39th 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 Garfield County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Garfield 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 Garfield County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Garfield County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 3 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.