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Klickitat County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 39highest risk in Washington
$26Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$13.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 55 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$9.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 70 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireHigh98.4
$14M
Inland floodingLow66.6
$9M
EarthquakeLow78.4
$1M
Cold waveLow49.4
$739K
Ice stormHigh82.7
$406K
LightningLow55.7
$228K
Heat waveLow40.6
$189K
Strong windLow20.9
$152K
Winter weatherModerate64.0
$83K
HailVery Low23.9
$70K
Volcanic activityLow92.2
$31K
TornadoVery Low6.3
$23K
LandslideLow80.7
$13K
AvalancheLow73.8
$8K
DroughtVery Low17.6
$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

Fire9
Flood7
Severe Storm7
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 19, 2025Burdoin FireFire management
Apr 28, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2023Newell Road FireFire management
Mar 29, 2022Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2021Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2015Horsethief Butte FireFire management
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergency
Aug 5, 2015Highway 8 FireFire management
Sep 6, 2012Highway 141 Fire ComplexFire management
Show all 27
Mar 5, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Monastery Fire ComplexFire management
Mar 25, 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 25, 2000Wa - Mule Dry Fire - 2000Fire management
Jul 28, 1998Wa - Cleveland Fire - 07/28/98Fire management
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1997Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1977Severe Storms,Mudslides, & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

0tornadoes
12hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
5damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 26, 1999Heavy RainDallesport$10K
Aug 2, 2004LightningGoldendale$10K
Jul 7, 2002Thunderstorm WindLyle$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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (30 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$286,001paid on 20 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $253,148 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 Klickitat County

$425,300median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.5%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; 10,945 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
Yakima CountyModerate37
Benton CountyModerate18
Wasco County, ORLow24
Hood River County, ORVery Low15
Morrow County, ORVery Low8
Skamania CountyLow27
Gilliam County, ORVery Low10
Sherman County, ORVery Low8

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.