Kitsap County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 98.7 | $120M | ||
| Inland flooding | 79.1 | $25M | ||
| Tsunami | 61.5 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 89.5 | $4M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 79.4 | $3M | ||
| Landslide | 99.2 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 23.7 | $429K | ||
| Lightning | 54.7 | $363K | ||
| Winter weather | 59.2 | $115K | ||
| Ice storm | 48.4 | $104K | ||
| Strong wind | 9.1 | $86K | ||
| Wildfire | 39.9 | $34K | ||
| Hail | 4.9 | $15K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 68.4 | $117 | ||
| Avalanche | 0.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 14
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2018 | EF2 | Port Orchard | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 9, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 2007 | Heavy Rain | Port Orchard | $30M |
| Dec 18, 2018 | Tornado | Port Orchard | $1M |
| Dec 12, 2010 | Flood | Port Orchard | $1M |
| Mar 15, 1997 | Heavy Rain | Bremerton | $750K |
| Jan 5, 2006 | Heavy Rain | Countywide | $700K |
| Oct 20, 2003 | Heavy Rain | Countywide | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| King County | 33 | |
| Pierce County | 24 | |
| Snohomish County | 35 | |
| Island County | 20 | |
| Mason County | 30 | |
| Jefferson County | 27 |
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.