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Lewis County, Washington

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
15th of 39highest risk in Washington
$71Mexpected losses a year
35federal declarations
1 in 34homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lewis County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 90% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $71 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $865 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (33 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 34 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,035 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $83 million on 2,102 claims here, including $43 million for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Lewis County

$36.8 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$30.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 50 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate90.9
$37M
EarthquakeModerate97.3
$30M
AvalancheHigh88.0
$1M
Heat waveLow77.9
$1M
Volcanic activityModerate95.1
$287K
WildfireLow76.7
$263K
LandslideModerate96.5
$195K
Strong windLow21.4
$168K
TornadoVery Low17.4
$162K
LightningLow32.4
$103K
Winter weatherLow40.2
$40K
Ice stormLow35.6
$37K
HailVery Low5.5
$12K
Cold waveVery Low3.1
$149
DroughtVery Low13.1
$46

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood19
Severe Storm13
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
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2016Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A TMajor disaster
Show all 35
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Dec 8, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1996Severe Storms, High Wind, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1993Severe Storms & High WindMajor disaster
Mar 8, 1991Severe Storms & High TidesMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 15, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1977Severe Storms,Mudslides, & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1971Heavy Rains, Melting Snows & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 19 storm reports in Lewis County since 1965, with 3 deaths and 2 injuries and about $71 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 10, 1965.

3tornadoes
0hail reports
0damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 10, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 27, 2011EF0Napavine0 / 0
Oct 25, 2010EF0Toledo-Winlock0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 2, 2007FloodDoty$50M
Nov 4, 2006FloodPackwood$9M
Jan 7, 2009FloodChehalis River At Centralia$8M
Jan 13, 2021FloodChehalis River At Centralia$1M
Jan 3, 2021FloodDoty$1M
Nov 12, 2021FloodSilver Brook$526K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Nov 12, 2021. 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 Lewis County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,035 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$82.6 millionpaid on 2,102 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $42.8 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 Lewis County

$385,800median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.7%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; 36,512 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
Pierce CountyHigh24
Thurston CountyHigh28
Yakima CountyModerate37
Cowlitz CountyModerate21
Grays Harbor CountyHigh32
Pacific CountyModerate24
Skamania CountyLow27
Wahkiakum CountyVery Low30

Common questions about Lewis County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lewis County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lewis County, about $36.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $30.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Lewis County had?

Lewis County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 33 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Lewis County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 15th 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 Lewis County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 34 homes in Lewis 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 Lewis County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Lewis County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 10, 1965. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 8 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.