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Mason County, Washington

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
20th of 39highest risk in Washington
$44Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Mason County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 85% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $44 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $674 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (27 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (419 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.4 million on 305 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 Mason County

Earthquake

Moderate
$26.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 35 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$14.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
  • Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate97.2
$26M
Inland floodingModerate79.3
$15M
Coastal floodingModerate75.2
$1M
Heat waveLow68.0
$653K
LandslideHigh98.1
$500K
TsunamiVery Low43.1
$433K
TornadoVery Low13.8
$94K
LightningVery Low20.3
$54K
Winter weatherLow48.0
$47K
Strong windVery Low6.3
$33K
WildfireVery Low44.1
$26K
Ice stormVery Low26.0
$19K
HailVery Low2.8
$4K
AvalancheVery Low41.4
$225
Volcanic activityVery Low48.2
$8
DroughtVery Low12.6
$5

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 Mason County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood12
Earthquake2
Volcanic Eruption1
Coastal Storm1
Fire1

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
Jul 5, 2023Mcewan 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
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, TornadoMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2016Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A TMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 30
Mar 5, 2012Severe 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
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
Jan 3, 1996Severe Storms, High Wind, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1993Severe Storms & High WindMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1979Storms, High Tides, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1965EarthquakeMajor disaster
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1985

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 17 storm reports in Mason County since 1985, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $18 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on October 18, 2019 near Bay Shr.

1tornadoes
1hail reports, largest 1 inches
0damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 18, 2019EF1Bay Shr0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 1999Heavy RainLilliwaup$10M
Mar 25, 1999Heavy RainHoodsport$5M
Jan 7, 2009FloodShelton$900K
Jan 5, 2006Heavy RainCountywide$700K
Dec 12, 2010FloodSkokomish River Near Potlatch$700K
Oct 20, 2003Heavy RainCountywide$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 24, 2025. 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 Mason County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (419 policies)
21.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.4 millionpaid on 305 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 Mason County

$411,800median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
37%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.4%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; 34,152 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
Kitsap CountyModerate14
Grays Harbor CountyHigh32
Jefferson CountyLow27

Common questions about Mason County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mason County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Mason County, about $26.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $14.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Mason County had?

Mason County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 27 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Mason County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 20th 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 Mason County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Mason 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 Mason County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Mason County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on October 18, 2019 near Bay Shr. The weather service has also logged 1 hail reports and 5 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.