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Stevens County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
28th of 39highest risk in Washington
$18Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stevens County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $395 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (wildfires). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (55 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $61,000 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 Stevens County

$10.6 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$4.9 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.6 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow68.6
$11M
WildfireModerate96.5
$5M
Cold waveModerate66.9
$2M
Heat waveLow62.0
$540K
EarthquakeVery Low43.0
$157K
LandslideModerate96.0
$147K
TornadoVery Low12.5
$86K
Winter weatherModerate62.6
$85K
Strong windVery Low12.2
$82K
Ice stormLow47.9
$67K
LightningVery Low10.0
$29K
HailVery Low7.3
$18K
AvalancheVery Low42.4
$257
DroughtVery Low13.9
$170

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 Stevens County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire11
Severe Storm4
Flood3
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026WildfiresEmergency
Aug 2, 2026Autumn Lane FireFire management
Aug 16, 2021Ford Corkscrew FireFire management
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2015Wildfires and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergency
Aug 21, 2015Renner FireFire management
Aug 15, 2015Stevens County Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 10, 2014Lake Spokane FireFire management
Aug 27, 2010Slide Creek WildfireFire management
Show all 21
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2006Valley Mill FireFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 5, 1998Wa Storms & Flooding 5/26/98Major disaster
Apr 2, 1997Heavy Rains, Snow Melt, Flooding, Land & Mud SlidesMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 1991FiresMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1989Heavy Rains, Flooding & MudslidesMajor 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 116 storm reports in Stevens County since 1955 and about $5.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 5, 1972.

5tornadoes
31hail reports, largest 2 inches
40damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 1972F2–0 / 0
Aug 14, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jul 25, 1983F1–0 / 0
Jul 21, 1997F1Kettle Falls0 / 0
Jul 21, 1997F1Kettle Falls0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 12, 2017FloodClayton$2M
Aug 2, 2014Thunderstorm WindBlue Creek Camp$800K
Apr 1, 2017FloodMarble$800K
Aug 18, 2004Flash FloodColville$438K
Aug 14, 1997WildfireTumtum$400K
Aug 2, 2014Thunderstorm WindBlue Creek Camp$300K

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 Stevens County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (55 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$61,426paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $31,034 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 Stevens County

$350,600median 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
18.4%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; 22,782 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
Pend Oreille CountyVery Low19
Lincoln CountyLow15
Ferry CountyLow22

Common questions about Stevens County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stevens County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stevens County, about $10.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Stevens County had?

Stevens County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in August 2026.

Is Stevens County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 28th 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 Stevens County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Stevens 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 Stevens County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Stevens County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 5, 1972. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 23 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.