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Skamania County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
31st of 39highest risk in Washington
$19Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Skamania County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 50% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,616 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $334,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Skamania County

$8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 100 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.
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Wildfire

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 195 years.
  • 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 floodingLow49.8
$8M
EarthquakeLow87.1
$4M
WildfireModerate93.9
$3M
Cold waveLow61.7
$2M
Volcanic activityHigh97.1
$2M
Heat waveVery Low38.7
$258K
Strong windVery Low14.1
$139K
Ice stormLow29.8
$38K
TornadoVery Low5.6
$29K
Winter weatherVery Low23.7
$26K
LandslideLow81.2
$22K
LightningVery Low4.1
$17K
HailVery Low3.2
$7K
AvalancheVery Low45.8
$473
Coastal floodingVery Low17.4
$33
DroughtVery Low12.7
$8

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 very low 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 Skamania County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood9
Fire5
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
Jul 3, 2023Tunnel Five FireFire management
Jan 12, 2023Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 17, 2022Nakia Creek 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
Feb 4, 2021Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2016Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A TMajor disaster
Show all 27
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergency
Mar 5, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2011Severe 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
Sep 21, 2007Broughton FireFire management
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and 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 2001

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 11 storm reports in Skamania County since 2001 and about $628,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
2hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
1damaging thunderstorm winds
0floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 14, 2023Debris FlowSpirit Lake$500K
Dec 7, 2015Heavy RainCarson$128K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 14, 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 Skamania County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$333,937paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $254,634 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 Skamania County

$529,500median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.2%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; 5,973 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
Multnomah County, ORHigh10
Clark CountyModerate15
Yakima CountyModerate37
Cowlitz CountyModerate21
Lewis CountyModerate35
Hood River County, ORVery Low15
Klickitat CountyLow27

Common questions about Skamania County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Skamania County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Skamania County, about $8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $4.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Skamania County had?

Skamania County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Skamania County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 31st 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 Skamania County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Skamania 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 Skamania County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Skamania County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 2 hail reports and 0 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.