Island County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- Look for cracks, tilting trees or fences on slopes nearby.
- Ask the county about past slides on the street.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 96.3 | $22M | ||
| Inland flooding | 54.9 | $8M | ||
| Landslide | 99.9 | $6M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 73.4 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 47.8 | $889K | ||
| Tsunami | 35.4 | $402K | ||
| Ice storm | 76.0 | $314K | ||
| Heat wave | 29.7 | $137K | ||
| Lightning | 24.5 | $88K | ||
| Tornado | 11.3 | $85K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.3 | $56K | ||
| Wildfire | 35.4 | $20K | ||
| Strong wind | 1.6 | $6K | ||
| Hail | 2.4 | $3K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 84.7 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 3.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 20
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.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 31, 2013 | Debris Flow | Clinton | $250K |
| Dec 28, 2014 | Debris Flow | Clinton | $250K |
| Dec 3, 2007 | Heavy Rain | Clinton | $20K |
| Apr 3, 2009 | Flood | Glendale | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Snohomish County | 35 | |
| Kitsap County | 14 | |
| Skagit County | 27 | |
| Jefferson County | 27 | |
| San Juan County | 10 |
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.