Spokane County, Washington
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 91.6 | $53M | ||
| Cold wave | 97.5 | $20M | ||
| Wildfire | 96.6 | $7M | ||
| Heat wave | 94.9 | $7M | ||
| Earthquake | 85.9 | $4M | ||
| Ice storm | 97.0 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 91.2 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 42.7 | $1M | ||
| Avalanche | 82.3 | $656K | ||
| Hail | 63.4 | $498K | ||
| Winter weather | 87.8 | $400K | ||
| Lightning | 57.1 | $353K | ||
| Landslide | 56.9 | $3K | ||
| Drought | 16.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 31
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1997 | F1 | Deer Park | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 17, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 12, 1984 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2017 | Flood | Hite | $8M |
| May 4, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Spokane | $5M |
| Jul 23, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | South Cheney | $4M |
| Aug 2, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hite | $2M |
| Feb 12, 2014 | Flood | Coey | $2M |
| May 19, 2008 | Flood | Peone | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kootenai County, ID | 16 | |
| Whitman County | 16 | |
| Bonner County, ID | 16 | |
| Stevens County | 21 | |
| Pend Oreille County | 19 | |
| Lincoln County | 15 | |
| Benewah County, ID | 14 |
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.