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Spokane County, Washington

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
13th of 39highest risk in Washington
$99Mexpected losses a year
31federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Spokane County, Washington has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 90% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $99 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $183 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (wildfires). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (244 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 62 claims here, including $1.0 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 Spokane County

$52.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$20.1 million 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 275 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 floodingModerate91.6
$53M
Cold waveHigh97.5
$20M
WildfireModerate96.6
$7M
Heat waveModerate94.9
$7M
EarthquakeLow85.9
$4M
Ice stormVery High97.0
$3M
Strong windHigh91.2
$3M
TornadoLow42.7
$1M
AvalancheModerate82.3
$656K
HailLow63.4
$498K
Winter weatherHigh87.8
$400K
LightningModerate57.1
$353K
LandslideVery Low56.9
$3K
DroughtVery Low16.6
$2K

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 Spokane County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire17
Flood6
Severe Storm4
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026WildfiresEmergency
Aug 2, 2026Fairview FireFire management
Aug 2, 2026Autumn Lane FireFire management
Aug 1, 2026Old Trails FireFire management
Jun 16, 2026Upriver FireFire management
Feb 15, 2024WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 19, 2023Oregon FireFire management
Aug 18, 2023Gray FireFire management
Jul 6, 2021Andrus FireFire management
Apr 8, 2021Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 31
Sep 8, 2020Babb FireFire management
Jul 17, 2018Upriver Beacon FireFire management
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 22, 2016Yale FireFire management
Aug 22, 2016Wellesley FireFire management
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergency
Jul 19, 2014Watermelon Hill FireFire management
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2008Spokane Valley FireFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 1991FiresMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1982Threat of Flooding At Spirit LakeEmergency
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergency
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 242 storm reports in Spokane County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 30 injuries and about $28.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 15, 1954.

16tornadoes
44hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
107damaging thunderstorm winds
48floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 15, 1954F2–0 / 0
May 6, 1957F2–0 / 0
May 31, 1997F1Deer Park0 / 0
Oct 17, 1983F1–0 / 0
Apr 12, 1984F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 9, 2017FloodHite$8M
May 4, 2016Thunderstorm WindSpokane$5M
Jul 23, 2014Thunderstorm WindSouth Cheney$4M
Aug 2, 2014Thunderstorm WindHite$2M
Feb 12, 2014FloodCoey$2M
May 19, 2008FloodPeone$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 25, 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 Spokane County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (244 policies)
16%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 62 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $1 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 Spokane County

$410,700median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 231,205 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
Kootenai County, IDLow16
Whitman CountyVery Low16
Bonner County, IDLow16
Stevens CountyLow21
Pend Oreille CountyVery Low19
Lincoln CountyLow15
Benewah County, IDVery Low14

Cities in Spokane County

Common questions about Spokane County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Spokane County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Spokane County, about $52.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $20.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Spokane County had?

Spokane County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in August 2026.

Is Spokane County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 13th 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 Spokane County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Spokane 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 Spokane County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Spokane County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 15, 1954. The weather service has also logged 44 hail reports and 48 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.