Klickitat County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Klickitat County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,148 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 30 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $286,000 on 20 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Klickitat County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 98.4 | $14M | ||
| Inland flooding | 66.6 | $9M | ||
| Earthquake | 78.4 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 49.4 | $739K | ||
| Ice storm | 82.7 | $406K | ||
| Lightning | 55.7 | $228K | ||
| Heat wave | 40.6 | $189K | ||
| Strong wind | 20.9 | $152K | ||
| Winter weather | 64.0 | $83K | ||
| Hail | 23.9 | $70K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 92.2 | $31K | ||
| Tornado | 6.3 | $23K | ||
| Landslide | 80.7 | $13K | ||
| Avalanche | 73.8 | $8K | ||
| Drought | 17.6 | $2K |
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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Klickitat County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 27
Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1998
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 27 storm reports in Klickitat County since 1998, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $21,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26, 1999 | Heavy Rain | Dallesport | $10K |
| Aug 2, 2004 | Lightning | Goldendale | $10K |
| Jul 7, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lyle | $1K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 17, 2024. 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 Klickitat 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 Klickitat 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; 10,945 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yakima County | 37 | |
| Benton County | 18 | |
| Wasco County, OR | 24 | |
| Hood River County, OR | 15 | |
| Morrow County, OR | 8 | |
| Skamania County | 27 | |
| Gilliam County, OR | 10 | |
| Sherman County, OR | 8 |
Common questions about Klickitat County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Klickitat County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Klickitat County, about $13.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $9.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Klickitat County had?
Klickitat County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.
Is Klickitat County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Klickitat County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Klickitat 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 Klickitat County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Klickitat County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 3 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.