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Skagit County, Washington

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
18th of 39highest risk in Washington
$81Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 20homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Skagit County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $81 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $625 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,457 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $23 million on 1,294 claims here, including $7.8 million for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Skagit County

$34 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$32.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$7 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
Inland floodingModerate87.8
$34M
EarthquakeModerate97.0
$33M
Coastal floodingHigh91.4
$7M
Volcanic activityHigh99.0
$3M
Ice stormHigh92.2
$1M
Heat waveLow68.9
$920K
Cold waveLow40.2
$701K
TsunamiVery Low30.8
$355K
LightningLow50.4
$250K
Winter weatherModerate73.3
$162K
AvalancheLow78.2
$107K
TornadoVery Low11.2
$84K
LandslideModerate92.4
$83K
WildfireVery Low52.5
$57K
HailVery Low4.7
$12K
Strong windVery Low1.5
$6K
DroughtVery Low13.7
$181

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 low 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 Skagit County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood12
Severe Storm11
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
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
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
Aug 24, 2015Goodell FireFire management
Mar 25, 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 27
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
Nov 7, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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 8, 1991Severe Storms & High TidesMajor 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
Feb 9, 1971Heavy Rains, Melting Snows & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 2001

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 15 storm reports in Skagit County since 2001, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $19.3 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
0hail reports
0damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 12, 2021FloodMarblemount$12M
Nov 28, 2021FloodBlanchard$3M
Jan 8, 2009FloodAllen$2M
Nov 4, 2006FloodConcrete$2M
Dec 12, 2010FloodConcrete$300K
Aug 11, 2024Flash FloodMarblemount$103K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 11, 2024. 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 Skagit County

Check your address flood zone ›
4.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,457 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$22.7 millionpaid on 1,294 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $7.8 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 Skagit County

$545,100median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.9%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; 57,050 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
Snohomish CountyHigh35
Whatcom CountyModerate24
Island CountyLow20
Chelan CountyModerate51
Okanogan CountyModerate40
San Juan CountyVery Low10

Cities in Skagit County

Common questions about Skagit County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Skagit County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Skagit County, about $34 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $32.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Skagit County had?

Skagit County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Skagit County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 18th 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 Skagit County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 20 homes in Skagit 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 Skagit County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Skagit County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 10 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.