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Kitsap County, Washington

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 39highest risk in Washington
$158Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Kitsap County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tsunamis. FEMA estimates about $158 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $574 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2007 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (795 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.2 million on 229 claims here, including $2.2 million for floods in 2022.

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

Top risks in Kitsap County

$120 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$24.7 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.
$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
  • If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeHigh98.7
$120M
Inland floodingModerate79.1
$25M
TsunamiLow61.5
$4M
Heat waveModerate89.5
$4M
Coastal floodingModerate79.4
$3M
LandslideHigh99.2
$2M
TornadoVery Low23.7
$429K
LightningLow54.7
$363K
Winter weatherLow59.2
$115K
Ice stormLow48.4
$104K
Strong windVery Low9.1
$86K
WildfireVery Low39.9
$34K
HailVery Low4.9
$15K
Volcanic activityVery Low68.4
$117
AvalancheVery Low0.6
$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 low 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 Kitsap County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm4
Earthquake2
Volcanic Eruption1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Dec 8, 2007Severe 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
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 8, 1991Severe Storms & High TidesMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1979Storms, High Tides, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1965EarthquakeMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1991

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 16 storm reports in Kitsap County since 1991, with 1 death and 5 injuries and about $34.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on December 18, 2018 near Port Orchard.

2tornadoes
0hail reports
2damaging thunderstorm winds
1floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 18, 2018EF2Port Orchard0 / 0
Apr 9, 1991F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 2, 2007Heavy RainPort Orchard$30M
Dec 18, 2018TornadoPort Orchard$1M
Dec 12, 2010FloodPort Orchard$1M
Mar 15, 1997Heavy RainBremerton$750K
Jan 5, 2006Heavy RainCountywide$700K
Oct 20, 2003Heavy RainCountywide$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 18, 2018. 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 Kitsap County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (795 policies)
39.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.2 millionpaid on 229 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $2.2 million 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 Kitsap County

$555,100median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.8%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; 116,970 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
King CountyVery High33
Pierce CountyHigh24
Snohomish CountyHigh35
Island CountyLow20
Mason CountyModerate30
Jefferson CountyLow27

Cities in Kitsap County

Common questions about Kitsap County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kitsap County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Kitsap County, about $120 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $24.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Kitsap County had?

Kitsap County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in December 2007.

Is Kitsap County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Kitsap County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Kitsap 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 Kitsap County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Kitsap County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on December 18, 2018 near Port Orchard. 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.