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Island County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 39highest risk in Washington
$39Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 45homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Island County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and landslides. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $452 per resident. Since 1980 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance (906 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.1 million on 279 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Island County

Earthquake

Moderate
$22.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 40 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 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.
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Look for cracks, tilting trees or fences on slopes nearby.
  • Ask the county about past slides on the street.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate96.3
$22M
Inland floodingLow54.9
$8M
LandslideHigh99.9
$6M
Coastal floodingModerate73.4
$1M
Cold waveLow47.8
$889K
TsunamiVery Low35.4
$402K
Ice stormModerate76.0
$314K
Heat waveVery Low29.7
$137K
LightningLow24.5
$88K
TornadoVery Low11.3
$85K
Winter weatherLow45.3
$56K
WildfireVery Low35.4
$20K
Strong windVery Low1.6
$6K
HailVery Low2.4
$3K
Volcanic activityLow84.7
$3K
AvalancheVery Low3.8
$2

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 low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Island County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood5
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 28, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 12, 2023Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2021Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, TornadoMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 15, 2015Severe WindstormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 20
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 17, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Nov 7, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1996Severe Storms, High Wind, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 8, 1991Severe Storms & High TidesMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1986

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 6 storm reports in Island County since 1986 and about $530,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
0hail reports
1damaging thunderstorm winds
1floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 31, 2013Debris FlowClinton$250K
Dec 28, 2014Debris FlowClinton$250K
Dec 3, 2007Heavy RainClinton$20K
Apr 3, 2009FloodGlendale$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 28, 2014. 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 Island County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (906 policies)
30.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.1 millionpaid on 279 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $971,384 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 Island County

$593,300median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.4%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; 42,744 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
Snohomish CountyHigh35
Kitsap CountyModerate14
Skagit CountyModerate27
Jefferson CountyLow27
San Juan CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Island County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Island County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Island County, about $22.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $7.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Island County had?

Island County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1980, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Island County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Island County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 45 homes in Island 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 Island County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Island County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 1 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.