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Jefferson County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 39highest risk in Washington
$17Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Jefferson County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 64% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $516 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (193 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $623,000 on 53 claims here.

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

Top risks in Jefferson County

Earthquake

Moderate
$10.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 35 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.
$515,208 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
  • Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate95.0
$10M
Inland floodingLow53.7
$5M
Coastal floodingModerate64.4
$515K
TsunamiVery Low40.0
$287K
Cold waveLow24.4
$220K
Ice stormModerate73.5
$189K
Winter weatherModerate81.9
$162K
Heat waveVery Low34.8
$124K
LandslideModerate96.0
$123K
TornadoVery Low9.5
$41K
LightningVery Low6.2
$14K
WildfireVery Low23.5
$7K
Strong windVery Low2.0
$6K
HailVery Low1.6
$1K
AvalancheVery Low58.2
$888
DroughtVery Low12.5
$2
Volcanic activityVery Low11.4
$0

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 high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood11
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
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
Mar 29, 2022Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, FloodingMajor 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
Mar 4, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, TornadoMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2016Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A TMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 27
Oct 15, 2015Severe WindstormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 8, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, 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
Apr 2, 1997Heavy Rains, Snow Melt, Flooding, Land & Mud SlidesMajor 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
Feb 15, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1979Storms, High Tides, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1999

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 16 storm reports in Jefferson County since 1999, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $11.5 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
0hail reports
0damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 4, 2006Heavy RainHoh$6M
Dec 2, 2007Heavy RainBrinnon$3M
Oct 20, 2003Heavy RainCountywide$800K
Jan 5, 2006Heavy RainCountywide$700K
Jan 12, 2021FloodHoh$554K
Dec 10, 2014FloodBrinnon$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 24, 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 Jefferson County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (193 policies)
17.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$623,025paid on 53 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $160,849 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 Jefferson County

$535,000median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%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; 19,534 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
Kitsap CountyModerate14
Island CountyLow20
Clallam CountyModerate27
Grays Harbor CountyHigh32
Mason CountyModerate30
San Juan CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Jefferson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jefferson County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Jefferson County, about $10.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Jefferson County had?

Jefferson County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Jefferson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Jefferson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Jefferson County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 4 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.