Pacific County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsunami | 95.4 | $84M | ||
| Earthquake | 95.1 | $12M | ||
| Inland flooding | 63.3 | $8M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 75.0 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 45.1 | $244K | ||
| Cold wave | 14.3 | $118K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.9 | $33K | ||
| Tornado | 7.3 | $31K | ||
| Landslide | 84.7 | $24K | ||
| Ice storm | 19.0 | $12K | ||
| Lightning | 4.3 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 27.7 | $10K | ||
| Winter weather | 13.5 | $9K | ||
| Hail | 1.7 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 17.3 | $20 | ||
| Drought | 12.8 | $10 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 9.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 24
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1990 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 13, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 19, 2021 | EF0 | Ilwaco Arpt | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 2007 | Flood | Willapa | $10M |
| Jan 6, 2022 | Flood | Lebam | $990K |
| Dec 1, 1990 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Oct 20, 1998 | Wildfire | Naselle | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | 35 | |
| Grays Harbor County | 32 | |
| Clatsop County, OR | 16 | |
| Wahkiakum County | 30 |
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.