Grant County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Grant County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 77% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $293 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (Baird Springs Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (182 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $81,000 on 18 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Grant 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 77.2 | $14M | ||
| Cold wave | 89.5 | $5M | ||
| Earthquake | 89.2 | $4M | ||
| Wildfire | 95.8 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 87.1 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 56.6 | $267K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.4 | $234K | ||
| Lightning | 50.2 | $184K | ||
| Tornado | 15.5 | $120K | ||
| Winter weather | 70.0 | $102K | ||
| Drought | 32.7 | $26K | ||
| Landslide | 78.9 | $11K | ||
| Ice storm | 14.0 | $7K | ||
| Avalanche | 59.2 | $1K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 82.4 | $991 |
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 Grant County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 71 storm reports in Grant County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $1.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 5, 1972.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 1972 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 2010 | EF0 | Wheeler | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1979 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2003 | F0 | Warden | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2001 | Heavy Rain | Countywide | $500K |
| May 31, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moses Lake | $200K |
| May 4, 2005 | Hail | Royal City | $200K |
| Jul 7, 2002 | Lightning | Ephrata | $150K |
| May 17, 2018 | Flash Flood | Ephrata | $100K |
| Jun 23, 2010 | Hail | Hanson | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 27, 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 Grant 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 Grant 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; 40,214 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yakima County | 37 | |
| Benton County | 18 | |
| Franklin County | 9 | |
| Kittitas County | 27 | |
| Douglas County | 17 | |
| Okanogan County | 40 | |
| Adams County | 8 | |
| Lincoln County | 15 |
Cities in Grant County
Common questions about Grant County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Grant County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grant County, about $13.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Grant County had?
Grant County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Baird Springs Fire in July 2023.
Is Grant County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Grant County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Grant 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 Grant County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Grant County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 5, 1972. The weather service has also logged 17 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.