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Grant County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 39highest risk in Washington
$29Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$13.8 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.
$5.3 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.
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 205 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate77.2
$14M
Cold waveHigh89.5
$5M
EarthquakeLow89.2
$4M
WildfireModerate95.8
$4M
Heat waveModerate87.1
$2M
HailLow56.6
$267K
Strong windLow30.4
$234K
LightningLow50.2
$184K
TornadoVery Low15.5
$120K
Winter weatherModerate70.0
$102K
DroughtLow32.7
$26K
LandslideLow78.9
$11K
Ice stormVery Low14.0
$7K
AvalancheVery Low59.2
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low82.4
$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

Fire4
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Coastal Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Jul 11, 2023Baird Springs FireFire management
Aug 12, 2018Grass Valley FireFire management
Jul 20, 2018Buckshot FireFire management
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2012Barker Canyon FireFire management
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergency

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.

6tornadoes
17hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
28damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 1972F2–0 / 0
Aug 10, 1985F1–0 / 0
May 19, 2010EF0Wheeler0 / 0
Jul 1, 1979F0–0 / 0
May 11, 2003F0Warden0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 26, 2001Heavy RainCountywide$500K
May 31, 1997Thunderstorm WindMoses Lake$200K
May 4, 2005HailRoyal City$200K
Jul 7, 2002LightningEphrata$150K
May 17, 2018Flash FloodEphrata$100K
Jun 23, 2010HailHanson$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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (182 policies)
17.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$80,819paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $37,323 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 Grant County

$299,500median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.5%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; 40,214 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
Yakima CountyModerate37
Benton CountyModerate18
Franklin CountyLow9
Kittitas CountyModerate27
Douglas CountyLow17
Okanogan CountyModerate40
Adams CountyVery Low8
Lincoln CountyLow15

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.