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Pend Oreille County, Washington

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

Very Low overall risk
34th of 39highest risk in Washington
$9Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pend Oreille County, Washington has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $9.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $680 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 19 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). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 99 claims here, including $979,000 for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Pend Oreille County

$7.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$750,498 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$300,824 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events very rare.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow54.3
$7M
Cold waveLow44.1
$750K
WildfireLow76.9
$301K
Strong windLow22.0
$196K
Heat waveVery Low32.8
$155K
Winter weatherLow52.7
$69K
EarthquakeVery Low27.7
$57K
LandslideModerate90.0
$56K
LightningVery Low15.4
$51K
Ice stormLow34.0
$39K
TornadoVery Low5.9
$25K
HailVery Low2.6
$4K
AvalancheVery Low42.0
$285
DroughtVery Low13.1
$39

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood5
Fire4
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2021Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2021Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2015Wildfires and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergency
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 17, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 21, 1997Fl00Ding, Snow MeltMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1997Heavy Rains, Snow Melt, Flooding, Land & Mud SlidesMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1997Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Nov 13, 1991FiresMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1978

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 86 storm reports in Pend Oreille County since 1978, with 2 deaths and 3 injuries and about $10.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 17, 1978.

1tornadoes
25hail reports, largest 3 inches
29damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 17, 1978F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 11, 2018FloodMetaline Falls$8M
Jul 23, 2014Thunderstorm WindCamden$1M
Jun 7, 2011FloodNewport$400K
Mar 14, 2017FloodMetaline Falls Arpt$300K
May 26, 1998Flash FloodCusick$250K
Apr 1, 2017Debris FlowMetaline Falls$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 26, 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 Pend Oreille County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 99 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $979,347 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 Pend Oreille County

$367,900median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.2%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; 8,113 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
Spokane CountyModerate31
Bonner County, IDLow16
Stevens CountyLow21
Boundary County, IDVery Low10

Common questions about Pend Oreille County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pend Oreille County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pend Oreille County, about $7.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $750,498.

How many federal disasters has Pend Oreille County had?

Pend Oreille County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Pend Oreille County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 34th 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 Pend Oreille County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Pend Oreille 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 Pend Oreille County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Pend Oreille County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 17, 1978. The weather service has also logged 25 hail reports and 17 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.