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Pacific County, Washington

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
7th of 39highest risk in Washington
$106Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 43homes with flood insurance
Photo: Martin Bravenboer, CC BY 2.0

Pacific County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are tsunamis, earthquakes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $106 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $4,560 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance (393 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.1 million on 216 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pacific County

Tsunami

Very High
$83.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
  • If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.

Earthquake

Moderate
$12.3 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.
$8.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TsunamiVery High95.4
$84M
EarthquakeModerate95.1
$12M
Inland floodingLow63.3
$8M
Coastal floodingModerate75.0
$1M
Heat waveLow45.1
$244K
Cold waveVery Low14.3
$118K
Strong windVery Low5.9
$33K
TornadoVery Low7.3
$31K
LandslideLow84.7
$24K
Ice stormVery Low19.0
$12K
LightningVery Low4.3
$12K
WildfireVery Low27.7
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low13.5
$9K
HailVery Low1.7
$2K
AvalancheVery Low17.3
$20
DroughtVery Low12.8
$10
Volcanic activityVery Low9.8
$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 relatively high 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 Pacific County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood11
Severe Storm10
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 28, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
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
Show all 24
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 17, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Nov 26, 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
Feb 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1990

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 26 storm reports in Pacific County since 1990 and about $11 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on December 1, 1990.

3tornadoes
1hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
3damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 1, 1990F0–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1991F0–0 / 0
Mar 19, 2021EF0Ilwaco Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 3, 2007FloodWillapa$10M
Jan 6, 2022FloodLebam$990K
Dec 1, 1990Tornado–$25K
Oct 20, 1998WildfireNaselle$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 5, 2023. 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 Pacific County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (393 policies)
18.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.1 millionpaid on 216 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $550,504 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 Pacific County

$334,800median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.5%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; 16,325 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
Lewis CountyModerate35
Grays Harbor CountyHigh32
Clatsop County, ORHigh16
Wahkiakum CountyVery Low30

Common questions about Pacific County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pacific County?

Tsunami has the highest expected yearly losses in Pacific County, about $83.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $12.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Pacific County had?

Pacific County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Pacific County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Pacific County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 43 homes in Pacific 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 Pacific County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Pacific County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on December 1, 1990. The weather service has also logged 1 hail reports and 12 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.